Mental Health

Click on the bold words to follow the resource links!

1. Student counseling services: On-campus counseling service
2. Rock Prairie Behavioral Health Hospital: Off-campus behavioral health service.
3. Active Minds: Student organization promoting dialogue and educating the student body about mental health. *Check our calendar for Active Minds meeting times*
4. Brazos Valley Mental Health and Mental Retardation Center - MHMR: Public non-profit that providing a continuum of mental health and intellectual and developmental disability services to eligible individuals.
5. Student Health Services Beutel Health Center: On-campus medical clinic.
6. A&M Helpline (979-845-2700): Provides information, referral, support, and crisis assessment and intervention for A&M students and those concerned about A&M students. There are also volunteering opportunities.
7. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255): National network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  
8. National Alliance on Mental Illness - NAMI (1-800-950-6264): NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. Hotline number available for referral, information and support.
9. Crisis Textline - Text HOME to 741741: Crisis Text Line is free, 24/7 support for those in crisis. Text 741741 from anywhere in the US to text with a trained Crisis Counselor. 

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After an interview with Student Counseling Services Director, Dr. Mary Ann Covey, Associate Director Dr. Langellier, Director of Outreach Kristie De La Garza, and Assistant Director Kari Keller, SGA VP of Student Services, Katie Morris, was able to compile some helpful information about Student Counseling Services and highlight some of the amazing growth that has occurred over the past year. Hopefully this article will help answer some commonly held questions about SCS and help all of us Aggies take better care of our mental health!

 

Short & Sweet of Texas A&M Student Counseling Services (SCS)

By: Katie Morris, Vice President of Student Services

If you are stressed out, you are not alone.

All of the SCS professionals in the room echoed that anxiety seems to be the most common mental health issue facing the Aggie student body, regardless of demographic differences.

Good news! The wait time for an appointment is FOUR DAYS!

This time last year, the wait was 8 days, now cut in half due to the hard work of the SCS team.

How has Student Counseling Services grown over the past year?

On every front! The group program has not only expanded, but 100% of participants would recommend group therapy to a friend! Not only have programs expanded, but outreach from SCS to students has grown. SCS’s commitment to funding Pacifica, providing resources to focus the student body on wellness, shows a dedication to interacting with the student body and meeting students where they are, whether that is in a formal appointment or a helpful app. Whether individual counseling, group, a workshop, or an app, SCS wants to interact with the Aggie Family in whatever way is most helpful.

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“We want to be where the students need us to be,”
Dr. Langellier explained, stressing the importance of
student input in the SCS process of continual growth in
programs, outreach, and connection with students.

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If I am interested in seeking help from SCS, what happens after I schedule an appointment online?

After going online to schedule an appointment (scs.tamu.edu), students will go to SCS building by White Creek to a triage appointment, where a counselor will recommend a path - whether that is group, a workshop, or Pacifica. When there is an immediate, life-threatening crisis, students can call Helpline 24/7 or walk into the SCS during business hours where crisis counselors are ready to help immediately.

But what steps can I take TODAY to take care of my mental health?

“Pacifica!” The four expert’s chuckled. Pacifica is a phone application that is new to Texas A&M that helps students tend to their overall well being, and SCS is enthusiastic about this easy-to-access resource. Every A&M student has a free subscription to Pacifica.

Chiming in, Kari Keller also emphasized the importance of general healthy habits - getting enough sleep, exercising, and eating well - to tend to mental health, in addition to having more conversations on campus about mental health to connect and empower Aggies who are struggling.

From the Student Counseling Services team and SGA, let’s join together in taking care of our mental wellness and saying Howdy to Health this October!