This week, Wellness Promotion collaborated with the Wellness Center, Excel Centers, MOSAIC and Kraemer Family Library for Mental Health Awareness Week at UCCS . As the week comes to a close, students are reminded that UCCS stands with students in battles for mental wellbeing
Students are continually encouraged to access offered mental health resources to ensure the health, safety and well-being of the UCCS community.
“I think the students who know [about the services] utilize us whenever they need to, but I think a lot of times people have no idea the services that we offer here and the way that we can help people,” Executive Director of the Wellness Center Charles Noel said.
Intervention and crisis services
Mental health clinicians are available for emergency and/or crisis sessions Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Wellness Center.
Faculty, staff and students may also use mental health services for consultation purposes such as addressing concerns about a depressed roommate, making a referral and learning how to respond to a colleague with a psychological problem.
The CARE Team evaluates students who may be at risk, by assessing and responding to reported concerns.
Students can access free, confidential mental health and wellbeing support 24/7 with the TELUS Student Support app which allows students to speak with mental health professionals via text or call.
Students who need immediate help with suicidal thoughts or other mental health or substance abuse crises can call or text the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. Students can also call 1-844-493-TALK (8255) or text TALK to 38255 for Colorado Crisis Services.
Wellness Promotion hosts monthly “Question, Persuade, Refer” suicide prevention training sessions for students and employees. QPR training teaches participants how to recognize the warning signs that someone may be suicidal. The next training session is scheduled for Nov. 5.
In case of a mental health or medical emergency, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Counseling services
Counseling sessions are offered to students, with three free sessions per semester and subsequent sessions costing $20 per visit. Services include individual, couples and family counseling.
Sessions focus on providing short-term treatment before giving students off-campus counseling referrals for long-term treatment and specialized care.
Individual sessions can focus on a variety of topics such as identity concerns, substance abuse issues, eating/appetite/weight issues, depression, general and test anxiety, relationship conflicts, traumatic events, grief and loss, sexual issues and difficulties coping with stress.
Students dealing with personal issues related to family may invite family members to therapy sessions when appropriate.
Students can also attend group therapy sessions led by UCCS clinicians and psychologists for $10 per session. These group sessions provide connections and offer support and resources for struggling students.
Couples counseling is available for students and their partners to seek topic-specific support, such as premarital, marital, divorce or sexual adjustment counseling, or general support.
Psychiatric evaluation and medication management
Healthcare providers in the Wellness Center offer medication consultations, prescriptions, medication management, and refills when appropriate.
They also offer psychological and cognitive testing to provide formal diagnoses, treatment plans and accommodations for students with disabilities. Testing services include the clinical evaluation of anxiety, depression, ADHD, learning disorders and personality assessments.
Students can contact Mental Health Services by calling 719-255-4444 or emailing [email protected] for further information about testing services or community testing providers.
Skills for Optimizing Student Success groups
The Skills for Optimizing Student Success program is free, weekly group meetings for students to practice skills like time management, self-care, goal setting and productivity.
The program focuses on helping students build social connections, develop studying, budgeting and financial skills and learn about self-care practices. The program is focused toward first-year students to help them transition and thrive academically and personally, but it’s available to all students.
“Remember, you’re not alone, right? Somebody else has been through this before, and just talking sometimes and getting it off your chest is the best approach, you know? Just talk to somebody and preferably, come to the Wellness Center,” Noel said.
The Wellness Center. Photo courtesy of the UCCS Photography Database.