Mental health resources available to students over the summer
LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 1, 2023) — May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Established in 1949 to increase awareness of the importance of mental health and wellness in Americans' lives, May is a great reminder that mental health matters and is essential for a person's overall health.
At the University of Kentucky, we understand that ensuring the success of our students means being there for the whole student.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one in four American adults lives with a diagnosable mental health condition.
Despite the prevalence of mental health concerns, many individuals do not seek or receive help, because of the stigma associated with mental illness, because of a lack of awareness about mental health, or because of the cost of treatment.
From mental health apps to food assistance and financial wellness — UK is committing the resources to do what we can, and what we must, for our community's mental health.
While May marks the end of the spring semester and many students will be leaving campus, UK is dedicated to providing continued support to students on and off its campus.
“As we work to improve mental health and wellness services across the university, we want to also keep in mind the importance of access to those services,” said Corrine Williams, associate vice president for student wellbeing. “In-person services are vital to this campus, but we also understand that one size does not fit all. Being able to provide students who are not on campus, or even if they are, those same services virtually is very important to us.”
Here is a list of mental health resources students can access over the summer regardless of their location:
The Triage, Referral, Assistance and Crisis Support (TRACS) hub is a physical and virtual one-stop shop where students can come for a quick referral to support services or receive direct clinical support for a range of mental health needs, basic needs and crises. If you are a student with a mental health or wellness question, you can show up in-person (third floor, east wing of the Gatton Student Center), call 859-21TRACS (859-218-7227) or fill out this form for assistance.
Students can visit the UK Counseling Center in 104 Mandrell Hall, 635 S. Limestone, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You must be currently enrolled as a student in at least 6 fee-paying hours at the university to receive services. For summer eligibility, you must have been enrolled in 6 hours in the spring and 6 hours in the upcoming fall.
Prevention, Outreach, and Wellness Education Resources (POWER) is a new Student Success unit positioned as an easily accessible one-stop location providing educational opportunities focused on promoting healthy behaviors among students.
Talkspace is a convenient, personal, and professional online messaging therapy platform. With Talkspace, you can regularly send text, audio and video messages to a dedicated licensed therapist anytime, anywhere. All currently enrolled UK students have access to Talkspace, free of charge.
TogetherAll is a safe, online community to share feelings anonymously and get support to improve mental health and well-being. In the community, people support each other, safely monitored by licensed and registered mental health practitioners. To access the app, go to www.togetherall.com, click on “I’m from a college or university” and enter their academic email address to register.
Headspace is your guide to practicing mindfulness in your everyday life. Create a calm and positive environment with Headspace. Learn how to relax, manage stress and focus your energy to become more centered and well-rested.
For more information on well-being resources at the university, click here.
At the University of Kentucky, students are at the center of all that we do. From the moment you become a Wildcat through graduation and beyond, the Office for Student Success is committed to supporting you. Comprised of five areas and 25 units, together, they have one vision — to help students live a life of meaning. Student Success works through an equitable, holistic and inclusive lens to design and deliver unparalleled services and support a diverse community of learners in achieving their wildest ambitions. In the Office for Student Success this is what we do — this is who we are. You can explore resources available to you here. If you have additional questions, you can reach a Student Success team member by calling the helpline 859-218-YouK (9685).