notes on overheard convo

 Campus Health Concerns Echo in Everyday Student Conversations

By Janiyah Townsend

While sitting in the library, I overheard two students talking about their experiences with campus health services. Their conversation revealed both frustrations and hopes that connect directly to my beat.

Notes from the conversation:

• One student mentioned waiting nearly three weeks for a counseling appointment and said the delay made their stress worse.

• The other student explained that they didn’t feel comfortable attending group counseling sessions because they worried about stigma and privacy.

• Both students agreed that telehealth appointments were convenient but questioned whether they were as effective as in‑person sessions.

• They also discussed women’s health resources, with one saying they weren’t sure where to go for reproductive care on campus.

This conversation highlights the real challenges students face when trying to access mental health and women’s health services. It shows that awareness campaigns alone are not enough — students need timely, confidential and effective care. The concerns about stigma and privacy also suggest that campus health services must do more to build trust with students.

 A possible article could explore how students perceive campus health services, comparing official resources with lived experiences. The story could ask whether colleges are listening to student concerns and adapting services to meet their needs.

local publication story

 Local Publication Story on Mental Health

By Janiyah Townsend 

ATLANTA- I read a local story from the Atlanta Journal‑Constitution titled “Mental health a challenge for Georgia college students, providers”. The article focused on how colleges across Georgia are struggling to meet the mental health needs of their students. It highlighted a health fair at Clayton State University where nursing faculty spoke with students about depression, self‑care, and available services.

The reporting captured the urgency of the issue by including student voices and faculty perspectives. It showed how depression and stress are common concerns among college students and emphasized the importance of awareness campaigns. The piece also highlighted the role of campus health fairs in connecting students to resources, which is a practical example of how institutions are trying to respond.

While the story raised awareness, it did not explore systemic barriers such as counseling wait times, affordability, or stigma. It lacked data to show the scale of the problem, such as the percentage of Georgia students reporting anxiety or depression. The article also did not connect mental health challenges to long‑term academic outcomes like retention or graduation rates. Without these elements, the story felt more anecdotal than investigative.

 Mental health is one of the most pressing issues facing college students today, especially in Atlanta. Coverage that goes beyond surface‑level events is essential to hold institutions accountable. Students need more than awareness fairs they need consistent access to affordable, timely care. Reporting that combines student experiences with hard data can reveal whether colleges are truly meeting demand.

A follow‑up piece could investigate whether Atlanta‑area colleges, including Clark Atlanta University, are adequately staffed to meet rising demand for counseling. It could compare student experiences across different campuses and highlight innovative solutions such as peer support programs, telehealth counseling and partnerships with community clinics. This type of reporting would not only inform but also push institutions toward meaningful change.

Mental health a challenge for Georgia college students, providers

beat #16(actual maybe)- three local organizations

 Three Local Organizations Supporting Community Health

By Janiyah Townsend

ATLANTA- I identified three organizations whose work connects directly to my health beat. Each group serves a different part of the Atlanta community, offering insight into counseling access, sexual health resources, and young women’s wellness. These organizations also present strong reporting opportunities for future stories.

Clark Atlanta University Counseling and Disability Services

Media contact: counseling@cau.edu

Clark Atlanta University’s Counseling and Disability Services provides mental health counseling, crisis support, and wellness resources to students. With rising levels of stress, anxiety, and depression among college-aged adults, the center plays a key role in meeting students’ emotional and psychological needs.

A potential story could examine how the counseling center is responding to increased demand for mental health services. Reporting could explore wait times, staffing levels, the availability of telehealth, group counseling options, and whether students feel they are receiving adequate support. Interviews with counselors and students could reveal challenges and solutions.

Grady Health System Teen Services Clinic

Media contact: media@gradyhealth.org

Grady Health System operates one of the region’s most accessible health programs for teens and young adults, offering STI testing, contraception counseling, sexual health education, and preventive care. Because many college students rely on community clinics rather than campus health centers, Grady’s services represent an important safety net.

One story angle would be reporting on how clinics like Grady support young adults who need confidential sexual health care. Coverage could include interviews with clinic staff, data on STI trends among young adults in Atlanta, and a look at barriers students face when accessing sexual health services.

Sisters of Today and Tomorrow (SOTAA)

Media contact: info@sistersoftodayandtomorrow.org

Sisters of Today and Tomorrow is an Atlanta-based nonprofit focused on young women’s leadership, empowerment, wellness, and personal development. The organization hosts workshops and programs that address health topics such as self-care, mental wellness, confidence, and healthy relationships.

A great story idea could explore how community organizations like SOTAA support Black girls and young women who may feel overlooked in traditional health education spaces. Reporting could examine program outcomes, participant experiences, and the gaps in women’s health education that the organization helps fill.

talk to professor

 Sit Down with a Professor about my Beat

By Janiyah Townsend

ATLANTA- I spoke with a biology professor about student health challenges. Our conversation revealed how science and wellness intersect in ways that are often overlooked in campus reporting.

The professor emphasized that stress and poor sleep directly affect academic performance, noting that students often underestimate the biological impact of lifestyle choices. They explained how chronic stress elevates cortisol levels, which can weaken the immune system and reduce focus. Sleep deprivation, meanwhile, disrupts memory consolidation and can impair decision‑making. These scientific insights show that health is not just about personal habits; it is about measurable biological processes that shape student success.

We also discussed nutrition and its role in long‑term health. The professor pointed out that college students often rely on processed or fast food, which can lead to deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals. Over time, these deficiencies contribute to fatigue, weakened immunity and even mental health struggles. They suggested that campus dining services could play a larger role in educating students about balanced diets and offering affordable, nutrient‑dense options.

Finally, the professor highlighted women’s health as an area where science and reporting must work together. Hormonal changes, reproductive health and stress management all intersect with academic life, yet these topics are often underreported. They encouraged journalists to cover women’s health with sensitivity and accuracy, ensuring that stories reflect both medical facts and lived experiences.

This conversation reinforced that health reporting should not only highlight services but also explain the science behind wellness. By combining biological insights with student perspectives, I can frame stories that are both relatable and evidence‑based. Future reporting on my beat will benefit from this approach, ensuring that coverage is grounded in both data and human experience.

3 projections

 Three Future Projections

By Janiyah Townsend

ATLANTA- Health reporting is evolving quickly, and several trends are especially relevant to my beat. These shifts not only shape how journalists cover wellness but also project where student health stories are headed in the next five years.

Telehealth Expansion

Colleges and clinics are increasingly offering virtual counseling and medical appointments. For students, this means greater flexibility and reduced wait times, but it also raises questions about privacy, effectiveness, and equity. As telehealth becomes more common, reporters will need to investigate whether virtual care truly meets the needs of young adults and how campuses are funding these services.

Data‑Driven Journalism

Public health datasets are becoming central to reporting. Journalists now use tools like the U.S. Census, CDC surveys, and local health department reports to identify disparities and trends. For my beat, this means stories can move beyond anecdotes to show measurable patterns such as rising anxiety rates among students or gaps in women’s health access. In the future, projections suggest that data visualization and interactive reporting will become standard, allowing readers to see health impacts in real time.

Focus on Equity 

 Coverage is shifting toward how race, gender, and socioeconomic status affect access to care. For Atlanta students, this is especially relevant given the city’s diversity and persistent health disparities. Women’s health, reproductive care, and mental health equity are projected to remain major storylines. Reporters will need to highlight not only the problems but also the solutions, such as community partnerships, policy changes, and campus initiatives aimed at closing gaps.

Together, these trends show that health reporting is becoming more personalized, more data‑driven, and more equity‑focused. For my beat, the projection is clear: future stories will need to blend statistics, student voices, and institutional accountability to give a full picture of wellness on campus.

beat #- us cen..

U.S. Census Related Data

By Janiyah Townsend

ATLANTA- According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey, 11.4 percent of Georgia residents were uninsured, one of the highest rates in the nation.

A possible story angle would be to explore how uninsured young adults in Atlanta navigate health care, including reliance on campus clinics, community health centers, and telehealth services. This story could highlight the financial and emotional impact of being uninsured while in college.

 

Beat # - Place of Relevemce

 Campus Health Story

By Janiyah Townsend

ATLANTA- One potential health story on campus would examine how students are navigating mental health services. Many report long wait times for counseling appointments and limited access to specialized care.

When visiting the student health center, I noticed the waiting area was often crowded, with students quietly scrolling on their phones or reviewing class notes while they waited. Flyers on the wall promoted stress management workshops and peer support groups, but several students said they were unaware of these programs until they saw the posters. Conversations in the hallway reflected frustration about scheduling delays and uncertainty about whether telehealth appointments were as effective as in‑person sessions.

The story could explore whether campus resources are meeting demand, how telehealth is being used and what students think about group counseling programs. It could also highlight the role of peer support initiatives, wellness workshops and student organizations that are stepping in to fill gaps.

By combining observations with student perspectives, the reporting would show both the scope of the issue and its emotional impact. This angle would not only inform readers but also raise important questions about whether Atlanta‑area colleges have the staffing, funding and technology needed to support growing student demand for mental health services.