Finding Help On Campus
College mental health professionals encourage students and their families to contact them with questions and concerns before starting college. This is also a good way to make sure a prospective school has sufficient mental health services to make sure you have the support you need to succeed.
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ULifeline™ (www.ulifeline.org) is a confidential online resource for college students to learn more about their emotional health and learn more about campus resources.. More than 60% of college students in the U.S. can access their school’s mental health information through ULifeline.
Find out in advance:
- What type of resources and professionals are available on campus and what are their hours?
- Is there 24-hour emergency care?
- Is group therapy offered?
- What is the average waiting time for getting an appointment?
- Is there a pharmacy on-site?
- What does the college’s health insurance cover, and are pre-existing conditions included in the coverage? What is the maximum number of sessions allowed per year?
- Does the counseling center have satellite offices, such as dorm-based counseling?
- Does the counseling center provide off-campus referrals?
- Is there a counselor on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week? If not, what types of after-hour emergency services are available?
- What is the school’s policy on taking a medical leave of absence and coming back after an absence?
Also, think about what other services are important to you. Remember that getting the answers to these questions before you start school is vital to your mental health. So do your research and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Related article: Finding Help Off Campus