Counseling Services

 

 

 

 

 

Hi Parents of UC Davis Students, we are excited to let you know about our services on campus to help address students’ mental health needs. 

Currently, college students are seeking our campus mental health services at higher numbers than ever in the past.  We are up 30% in our service utilization in just the past 5 years.  Studies cite that up to 80% of students overall report that they have felt “overwhelmed at some point during their college career”.  This is normal.  However, there is a point where that kind of stress can’t be attributed to just academic stress and is instead an indication of a deeper problem. 

I have listed a comprehensive list of all the services we offer, but also want to let you know about how you as parents can spot mental health struggles or issues. 

The most common issues we see are academic stress, anxiety, and depression. 

Less common, but still occurring, are issues with substance abuse, eating disorders, sleep disorders, and also first occurrences of psychotic disorders, and bipolar disorder. 

Here are some signs or symptoms to look for to know if a student is struggling:

Physical:

• Symptoms of exhaustion (over sleeping / chronic lateness)
• Weight fluctuations
• Deterioration in personal hygiene
• Noticeable cuts/ bruises
• Frequent / chronic illness
• Disorganized speech, confusion
• Inability to make eye contact / changes in relationship connections

Cognitive / Behavioral / Emotional

• Mood changes (and rapid mood fluctuations)
• Decreased motivation
• Excessively demanding or dependent behavior
• Tearfulness, shaking, fidgeting
• Expressions of hopefulness or worthlessness
• Change in contact (withdrawal or increased contact)
• Reports of feeling overwhelmed
• Struggles with reality testing (reports of hearing voices / paranoia)

Academic

• Changes in class attendance
• Struggles with completing assignments on time
• Fluctuation in grades on assignments
• Dropping classes
• Strange emails / essays that are incoherent

 

Our data on our students at UC Davis shows that within the last 12 months, students reported that stress (44%), anxiety (32%), sleep (27%), depression (22%), concern for friend or family member (18%), internet use (16%), participation in extracurricular activities (15%), work (15%), and finances (8%) were the top issues that interfered with academic performance. 

 

Receiving early intervention is a key to success, and our services aid in student retention.  We provide connections with self-driven resources for students who are interested in learning more on their own about sleep hygiene, mood states, calming their worries, and dealing with substance abuse or relationship issues. 

 

It can help to ask your son or daughter more directive questions about their well-being.  For example instead of “How’s it going”, ask “Are you stressed out about anything other than your classes?”.  If they are expressing struggles, offer to connect them with resources: “Do you want me to send you more information about help you can get on-campus?” or if you have an insurance plan other than SHIP (we see all students, regardless of insurance plans, but it can help to connect students directly to off campus longer term care)– “Do you want me to look into connecting you to an off-campus provider through our insurance?”. 

 

We truly want to meet students with “where they are.”  In order to do this, we offer a large variety of services. Please keep these services in mind if you find your son/daughter or student struggling.  We are here to help. 

 

For students who tend to be more self-motivated - we offer these free services:

 

Therapy Assistance Online (TAO): These online videos help with stress, depression, fears, substance abuse, relationship struggles, mindfulness, and many more issues. 

Research has shown that attending these podcast modules is as effective as therapy alone.  Students can simply log on at https://thepath.taoconnect.org/ with their UC Davis email.

 

Live Health Online (LHO): When the Student Health and Wellness Center is closed, students can still meet online with a mental health provider Appointments are offered often  on the same day, The service uses a secure, confidential web platform.  Students can visit https://shcs.ucdavis.edu/online-visits to access.

 

You Got This:  This group program teaches skills around managing anxiety, procrastination, relationships and coping.  Students can sign up on-line at https://hem.ucdavis.edu. 

 

Group Therapy- We offer therapy groups, skills groups, and Career Counseling Groups on campus.  Students can call 530-752-0871 to get into a group screening for our themed groups.  A group list can be found at https://shcs.ucdavis.edu/services/groups.

 

For students who want or need more help, other options are available:  

 

Individual Therapy: We offer short-term therapy (average four sessions) to students on campus.  They can make an appointment online https://hem.ucdavis.edu or by calling 530-752-0871. 

Referrals to Long Term Therapy: We offer appointments with Case Managers and Mental Health Advocacy Specialists who can connect students to long-term care providers in the community using their insurance.  These appointments can be booked on-line https://hem.ucdavis.edu, in person at North Hall, or by calling 530-752-0871. 

Crisis Services: We offer crisis consultation services in person at North Hall 11a.m.-4:30 p.m., or at the Student Health and Wellness Center, Acute Care, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.  Additionally, after-hours, students can call 530-752-0871 and follow the prompts to talk to a counselor immediately.  Also available is our crisis text line — students can text “relate” to 741741 and get a response in a few minutes.  If there is a need to contact a crisis hotline, Yolo County Suicide Prevention Line is available at 530-756-5000.

If you are concerned about your son or daughter (or a friend or roommate of theirs) and want someone to check in on them, there are a few options – you can call the campus police to issue a welfare check by calling 530-752-1230 or you can contact The Office of Student Support and Judicial Affairs (OSSJA), who can help. They will assign a Case Manager to reach out to the student and assist them in getting connected with any services they need.  Anyone can fill out a Case Management request (website link https://ucdavis-advocate.symplicity.com/care_report/index.php/pid719170?)

regarding a student they are concerned about, and a Case Manager will follow up on same day or within the next business day.  This service can communicate back to the referring party about the steps taken. 

One Time Visits: Often students are facing an issue that is not a crisis but requires quick intervention without ongoing care.  We offer same or next day One Time Visits so that students can schedule a quick appointment with a counselor to address a current issue. Schedule on-line via https://hem.ucdavis.edu or in person at North Hall). 

Satellite Services: Vet-Med, Med Students, Law Students:  We have imbedded counselors in each of these grad programs, offering longer term therapy services. Link: https://shcs.ucdavis.edu/services/individual-counseling

Counselors at student centers and colleges

CAN (Community Provider Network):  To better serve our marginalized students, we have providers  at some of our student centers on campus.  They offer anonymous appointments to students who are more interested in consultation than a traditional counseling appointment.  Link: https://shcs.ucdavis.edu/services/can

We also have representatives within each of the colleges who meet with students immediately and offer office hours.  You can find them on our staff website page. 

 

 

We have a wide range of services that are meant to meet students at various steps / need levels.  We are here to help.  If you are concerned about a loved one, please contact us directly to consult: 530-752-0871.