Completing a degree in higher education is an incredible accomplishment that, in most cases, is not met without challenges – academically, socially, and emotionally. While every student’s collegiate journey is different, Athens State University is committed to providing a wide breadth of services that meets the needs of each and every student on campus.
As part of that commitment, Athens State University has partnered with TimelyCare, one of higher education’s most trusted virtual health and well-being providers, to offer students free and equitable access to mental health support. The partnership is an extension of campus mental health and counseling center resources, with a goal of improving student well-being, engagement, and retention.
The need for 24/7 access to high-quality care has never been more important. According to a report by Gallup and the Lumina Foundation, 69% of students in bachelor’s degree programs who considered dropping out cited emotional stress as their reason.
Through TimelyCare on their phone or other device, Athens State University students can now select from a wide-ranging menu of virtual care options from licensed counselors in all 50 states – at no cost and without the barrier of traditional insurance – including:
- On-demand mental health and emotional support (TalkNow)
- Appointment-based mental health counseling (up to 6 sessions each academic year)
- Health coaching
- Care navigation
- Peer support community
- Digital self-care content
Additionally, faculty and staff have access to support that empowers them to guide students to TimelyCare resources to help students achieve a sense of well-being, live healthier lifestyles and improve their mental health.
“At the forefront of our commitment to student well-being is the priority of health and safety. TimelyCare’s user-friendly platform, convenience and immediacy make it easier than ever for our students to access on-demand support,” said Dr. Patrice Broaden, Director of Student Wellness and Accessibility. “TimelyCare enhances campus resources by making care more readily available to students when they need it, limiting the spread of illness, reducing the stigma of mental health issues, and granting peace of mind to students and their families.”
The partnership with TimelyCare allows Athens State to deliver a hybrid model of care in collaboration with on-campus resources. Benefits to students include:
- Convenient 24/7 care – Physical and mental health issues often present themselves outside regular business hours, and TimelyCare makes seeking support or treatment as easy and convenient as making a video or phone call. Nationally, half of mental health care visits through TimelyCare occur after regular business hours or on weekends.
- Reduced wait times – Many campus counseling centers often have a 2-3 week wait time for appointments, whereas students can typically connect with a TimelyCare provider in less than 5 minutes.
- Diverse provider network – TimelyCare’s diverse and culturally responsive provider network reflects and is proud to serve students who embody diversity in race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, age, religion and worldview, language, health, ability, sexual orientation, socioeconomic and immigration status, and more. More than half of mental health providers identify as people of color. The platform also offers professionals who identify as LGBTQIA+, speak multiple languages, and translation services to support more than 240 languages. Students scheduling services can choose to meet with a specific provider or select the first available.
- Peace of mind – TimelyCare is a safe, secure, URAC-accredited and HIPAA-compliant platform that follows campus-specific protocols to facilitate care coordination and follow-up to ensure continuity of care. Integrations with leading learning management systems ensure students have even more on-ramps to in-the-moment support whenever they need it.
Three-quarters (75%) of college students who accessed virtual mental health and well-being interventions through TimelyCare reported mental health improvements – including 100% of those who presented as a potential suicide risk. More than half (53%) of all students who have sought mental health support through TimelyCare said they would have done nothing if the service were not available.
“With nearly seven out of 10 students reporting that they experience mental health issues such as stress, anxiety or depression, expanded access to virtual health and well-being interventions like TimelyCare has never been more important,” said Luke Hejl, CEO and co-founder of TimelyCare. “Ultimately, supporting students means providing access to care whenever and wherever they need it.”
Students can visit //timelycare.com/athens or download the TimelyCare app from the app store and register with their Athens State email address. They can then start visits from any web-enabled device – smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop – anywhere in the United States.
For more information about TimelyCare, please contact Dr. Patrice Broaden at Patrice.Broaden@athens.edu.