You have to love the patchwork society we live in. Trouble spot over here? Throw money at it. Trouble spot over there? Here, have some more money.

So with little discussion or debate, the glorious U.S. Dept. of Education has decided to give Va. Tech nearly $1 million to help them with their obvious difficulties in counseling their students. Oh, and identifying the students who also might need some mental health assistance.

I got my start online in being one of those people in need, so I’m all for helping out those in need. But does it make sense to throw $1 million to Va. Tech to help their mental health needs without addressing the larger issue of, well, the mental health needs of all students at all universities and colleges in the U.S.? I mean, talk about a band-aid approach…

So while Va. Tech gets this nice infusion of cash (and they certainly need and deserve it), dozens of other universities and colleges in the U.S., crying out for similar aid, get nada. I’m sorry, but the U.S. Dept. of Education should commit to helping all colleges and universities in the U.S. with these similar issues, not just the one that everyone is most focused on after-the-fact.

Because the only way to prevent tragedies like this in the future is to be proactive, not reactive. And this sort of grant is completely reactive.

Read the full story: Grant to Help Va. Tech Upgrade Counseling

Dr. John Grohol is the CEO and founder of Psych Central. He is an author, researcher and expert in mental health online, and has been writing about online behavior, mental health and psychology issues -- as well as the intersection of technology and human behavior -- since 1992. Dr. Grohol sits on the editorial board of the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking and is a founding board member and treasurer of the Society for Participatory Medicine.

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Health Tips Blog » $1M to Va. Tech for Counseling (9/24/2007)

    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 24 Sep 2007
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