What Students Need to Know When Seeking UW Mental Health Services
Navigating college life can be challenging, and it’s important to know that support is available. Whether you are struggling with anxiety, depression, or stress, there are resources that can help.
If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room.
You can also call or text 988 to access crisis support 24/7.
HOW TO ACCESS UW MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
For University of Wisconsin-Madison students, you can start with contacting University Health Services, which offers a variety of mental health services at no cost. This includes 24/7 crisis support, brief individual counseling, group counseling, and psychiatric services. UHS staff can also help connect students to off-campus community resources for longer-term therapy or specialized treatment. The MiResource database is a helpful tool for locating local mental health providers tailored to your needs.
For students attending other University of Wisconsin campuses, your campus health office can provide information about the mental health services available to you. Support options vary by campus, and many offer free services. Some examples include:
Reaching out to your campus health office is a great first step in understanding what support is available to you locally.
OPTIONS FOR UW MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
According to the American Counsel on Education, anxiety, stress, and depression are the most common reasons college students seek mental health services. About 25% of students strongly agree that they needed help in the past year with managing their emotional or mental health difficulties (ACE, 2024).
To meet this need, many colleges and universities offer a variety of mental health services, such as:
Mindfulness and stress reduction workshops
Group counseling
Individual therapy
Support groups
Psychiatric medication management
Consider which type of support might work best for you. Do you feel most comfortable discussing your concerns individually with a therapist, or would you prefer the shared experience of a support group? Do you want in-person sessions, or would telehealth be more convenient?
Also think about your preferences for providers. Are you looking for someone who shares important aspects of your identity or practices from a particular framework or approach? Finding a mental health provider who is a good fit for you is very important for getting effective support.
UNDERSTANDING COSTS AND INSURANCE
Most UW campus mental health services are provided at no cost to students, but there may be times when you need or prefer off-campus services, such as longer-term therapy or specialized care.
When seeking mental health services in the community, it’s helpful to:
Verify your insurance coverage to determine which providers are in-network and understand your out-of-pocket costs (e.g., copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles).
Ask providers about their fees if you do not plan to use insurance.
If you are an out-of-state student, ask whether the provider is authorized to offer telehealth services in your home state during semester breaks.
Campus health offices can also guide you to community-based services that offer low-cost or sliding-scale options.
TAKE THE NEXT STEP
If you’re a college student feeling overwhelmed by stress or struggling with anxiety or depression, professional mental health services can help. I offer individual therapy in Madison, WI or via telehealth in 42 states. Take the first step toward feeling better—call 608-960-9550 to schedule a free 15-minute consultation today.