The University System of Georgia has recently partnered with Christie Campus Health, a national company that helps provide additional mental health services to students, in order to expand the mental health resources available to students. 

One of these resources is the ability to see an off-campus provider who has no affiliation with the university. The selected provider can then offer five sessions without cost to the student. After the fifth session, students will receive a bill for any additional sessions. 

Students who wish to use this service do not have to go through the counseling center on campus but instead can call 1-833-910-3369 directly to schedule an appointment with a mental health counselor. 

The second benefit of the contract with Christie Campus allows students the ability to be referred for a telepsychiatry appointment through Health Services or the Counseling Center. For students who do not currently use Health Services or the Counseling Center, they will have to make an appointment to discuss their psychiatric needs. 

“For those who are current clients of the Counseling Center or patients of Health Services, they can speak to their provider about a referral to the Christie Campus psychiatric services,” Jodi Caldwell, the Executive Director of the Counseling Center, said. 

The counseling center is still available to all full-time students for resources like individual therapy, group therapy, same day sessions, drop-in workshops and after-hours crisis response. 

Students will also soon have access to “ICare” an eight-session self-guided program. 

“ICare is a research-supported, internet-based and mobile-friendly self-guided cognitive behavioral training (ICBT) that was developed specifically for college students experiencing depression, anxiety, or both who do not need psychotherapy with a licensed clinician,” Caldwell said. 

Students who want to enroll in ICare should call 1-866-639-3938 or email navigator@christiecampus.com. 

Besides the resources already available to students on the Counseling Center website and the Student Wellness and Health Promotion website, students can now use the self-help and wellness resources on another site by clicking on a link on the Student Wellness and Health Promotion Site.

“For students who are unsure of which type of service may best fit their needs, the Counseling Center staff is available to help,” Caldwell said. 

To schedule a same-day session, call the counseling center at 912-344-2529. 

To learn more about the resources available, visit the resources section of the counseling center website or visit Georgia Southern’s Mental Health Initiative page.