Student mental health support available through walk-in counseling, skill groups, “Let’s Talk” sessions and more | Emory University

Staying in good physical and emotional health is an important part of academic success and the overall well-being of students. For this reason, students at the Emory campuses of Oxford College and Atlanta can access many programs and services to provide support and teach coping and resilience skills.

A valuable resource for all Emory students is TimelyCare, a telehealth service that expands medical and mental health support options, even for those who reside outside of Georgia. TimelyCare offers the following services to all students at both Emory campuses:

• 24/7 TalkNow Services (anytime, anywhere mental health consultation; open to US students and those outside of the US)
• Scheduled counseling appointments
• Scheduled psychiatric appointments
• On-demand and scheduled medical care
• Free group sessions with wellness focused content for students (click on the “Sessions” button at the top of the screen). TimelyCare currently offers guided yoga and meditation sessions four days a week to further promote student well-being in a proactive manner.

In addition to TimelyCare, services and programs are provided by staff at the Atlanta and Oxford campuses.

Support for students at the Atlanta campus

Students at the Atlanta campus can access support through Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS).

One-on-one therapy sessions are the cornerstone of CAPS, but they also teach students about stress management and other topics that impact student mental health.

“While many students are comfortable with (and benefit from) traditional speech therapy services, other students may not be as comfortable with the idea of ​​accessing health care. mental health, ”said Jane Yang, CAPS Acting Co-Executive Director on Atlanta. Campus. “As a result, our agency has developed a range of programs to increase the accessibility of mental health resources in different modalities. These programs can also help normalize some of the barriers that students may face, such as impostor syndrome or burnout. “

Some programs, such as individual or group therapy sessions, are only available if students become clients of CAPS therapy. Almost all of the services are offered by telehealth and are open to all undergraduates, graduates, and professionals on the Atlanta campus. And, says Yang, services like walk-in workshops and skill groups don’t require students to undergo therapy before entering the program. (See below for services available to Oxford students.)

Current resources for Atlanta campus students (in addition to individual in-person therapy appointments) include:

• Support for students in medical isolation and quarantine: For more information, visit the Student Health Services website.
• CAPS free workshops: These ad hoc workshops cover a variety of topics, including social bonding; improved relaxation and sleep; tools to fight against anxiety or procrastination; treat impostor syndrome; and avoid burnout. Students must log in with their Emory credentials to access information. Find out more or register for a workshop.
• Skill groups: These five-session courses include “Stress Clinic” and “Dealing with Difficult Thoughts and Feelings”. Students must log in with their Emory credentials to access information. Learn more or register.
• Let’s talk: This virtual walk-in consultation service is available to all graduate students and professionals and for all students living on campus, including student residence life staff. Learn more online.
• Support and therapy groups: International students can find support through a host group especially for them; students are not required to be therapy clients or be located in Georgia to access the International Student Support Group. Other therapy groups offered by CAPS require that students reside in Georgia and be clients of CAPS. The current therapeutic groups are:
• Interpersonal process of black graduate students and professionals
• Interpersonal process of BIPOC students
• Graduated from all gender interpersonal processes
• Bereavement and Loss Therapy and Support Group
• School of Medicine Therapy Group (M2)
• Survive and Thrive (Therapy and Support Group for Trauma Survivors)
• Interpersonal undergraduate process of all kinds
• QPR training (question, persuasion, reference) in witness intervention in suicide prevention: These sessions are offered on request (click on the Suicide prevention training tab). CAPS staff also provide presentations on demand and in collaboration with campus partners and student groups.

While many services supporting student mental health are offered by CAPS, other departments also offer resources that can support mental health through holistic wellness. For example, the Office of Health Promotion and Recreation and Wellness offers wellness coaching; Student health services provide nutrition counseling and education; and the Integrated Well-Being Group (a collaboration of departments from the Atlanta and Oxford campuses) created the Take a Break Toolkit, a self-guided resource to support student self-care.

Support for Oxford campus students

Oxford College’s student support services are coordinated through Counseling and Career Services (CCS). Services are independent of those offered to students on the Atlanta campus, although there may be shared programs in the future.

“With the pandemic, we became aware of how certain programming offered through Zoom could be offered on a cross-campus basis,” explains Gary D. Glass, director of CCS. “We are only beginning to imagine how this could continue in the future. “

Currently, CSC programs are delivered through online platforms. Wellness services include:

• Support for students in medical isolation and quarantine (in collaboration with the Oxford Student Support Coordinator)
• Consultation regarding common mental health concerns or issues
• Individual counseling services for mental health issues
• Telehealth services in psychiatry for students wishing to start or continue medication management
• Referrals to local or Atlanta-area providers for students requiring specialized or extended services that are beyond the scope of CCS care

CCS also offers support to student organizations who wish to contribute to mental health and well-being. For example, CCS staff work with dormitory counselors on programs that may be of benefit to students and work with the SGA Health and Wellness Committee to train facilitators in stress discussions. of college life.

Topics cover many common college challenges, such as dealing with academic hardships, dealing with impostor syndrome, and creating a community culture of well-being and respect.

“Because of our small size, we find that partnering with students extends our services in a way that reflects their unique interests while cultivating a supportive campus culture,” said Glass.