Newman University students now have access to behavioral health services through a new partnership with The Virtual Care Group (VCG), a telehealth care network.
Mental health services are being offered to full time undergraduate students, free of charge, for the remainder of the 2021 spring semester thanks to a sponsorship by the Student Government Association (SGA).
Newman University President Kathleen S. Jagger, Ph.D., initiated conversations with VCG representatives earlier in the semester. “After discussions in the fall with various campus leaders, SGA and other organizations, we knew our students were looking for more support for their mental health, especially during the pandemic. The platform provides students access to licensed healthcare professionals.”
Jagger added she is grateful for SGA’s sponsorship of the unique health resource. “For the next three months, students will be able to engage with ongoing services without any cost. The administration is hopeful this trial partnership can be very beneficial and help us in our overall goal of supporting our students’ health needs,” Jagger said.
The VCG platform virtually connects students with licensed behavioral health providers, including psychologists, social workers, professional counselors and therapists, for ongoing therapeutic care to help them with behavioral health concerns. Students will be able to request appointments and speak to a licensed therapist about conditions such as depression and anxiety, bipolar disorders, eating disorders, grief and loss, life changes, panic disorders, stress, relationship issues, trauma, PTSD and more.
Students can register for the services at www.thevirtualcaregroup.com/newman. Services are accessible every day 24/7 and available on phone, web and mobile app. Most students will be able to see a behavioral health provider within 24-48 hours of contacting the group. Appointments typically run 50 minutes.
Member features include industry-standard validated assessments, automatic appointment reminders and more than 250 languages, including English, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese and Cantonese.
Note: While most behavioral health services are free, some recommended care could require fees.
In-person counseling is still available. Contact Scott Mudloff, advisor for special populations, at [email protected] for more information.
