In this section you will find resources located here on The Ohio State University Campus that help to address mental health concerns of the students. These resources are accessible to all students and can help improve mental health in a variety of different ways.
Counseling and Consultation Services
- Counseling and Consultation Services offers a variety of resource that students may find useful! . For example, CCS offers 10 free counseling sessions to OSU students per academic year. Individual counseling gives people a place to process their experiences and emotions, and grow in their confidence to cope with and manage stress. To fully inform you, there is a high demand for services at CCS. As a result there can be a bit of a waiting list, and they may choose to refer you to a community provider if they feel you will be better served in a different setting. However, many students find the opportunity for free mental health support to be a useful resource to consider. The first step to get connected with CCS for counseling services is to schedule a phone consultation appointment, you can find instructions for how to do so at the web address below:
https://ccs.osu.edu/schedule-a-phone-screening/
- CCS also offers a variety of counseling groups, which are free and open to all students. Being in a group can assist you in managing and coping with the difficult issues that you’re facing, in the very same way that individual counseling can. There are groups for skills and groups for support, ranging from managing stress and anxiety to graduate student issues. You still need to complete a phone screening prior to attending, however my understanding is that attending a group entails a shorter wait time when the demand for services is high. Of course many express hesitation in joining a group, particularly wondering if they will get the same kind of attention as benefit as they might in individual counseling. However, the literature on the topic does show group counseling to be as effective (if not more effective) as individual counseling in producing positive outcomes. This may be a useful resource for you to consider. You can find group testimonials and a menu of group offerings at the web address below:
- CCS also offers weekly drop-in workshops, which are useful for picking up skills and strategies for self-care and stress management. These are also a free resource, and you do NOT need to register or complete a phone screening to attend (you can simply show up!). There are a variety of options available, which you can find at the web address below:
https://ccs.osu.edu/drop-in-workshops/
- You may also be interested in exploring the possibility of getting connected to a community provider. CCS has an online database where you can search for a counselor based on several different characteristics, including the insurance plans that they take (for example if you are on the OSU Student Health Insurance, you can search for counselors that accept that plan). Psychology Today has a similar database. You will likely be required to contribute some type of copay when seeing a community provider, the trade-off is that you have more flexibility to ‘shop around’ for someone you like, and a community provider may be able to see you sooner and more consistently that a counselor at CCS. You can access CCS’s and Psychology Today’s databases at the web address below:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists?search=Columbus
- Finally, CCS offers a service they call “Let’s Talk”, which is drop-in informal mental health consultations with a clinician from CCS. This is a resource that you can access to get in-person and direct support from a clinician. Let’s Talk sessions are one-on-one sessions that span 15-20 minutes, with no appointment or paperwork necessary as students are served on a first-come-first-serve basis. A clinician from CCS may also be knowledgeable of counselors in the immediate counselor area that you can access.
https://ccs.osu.edu/about-us-and-our-services/lets-talk/
OSU Stress Management and Resiliency Training (SMART) Lab
The SMART Lab is a useful resource that offers sessions that utilize software technology to focus on biofeedback (e.g. heart rate, respiration, skin conductivity). Individuals are given the opportunity to identify sources of stress, while problem-solving ways to reduce stress and practice relaxation techniques. For more information or to schedule an appointment please see the link below:
OSU Couple and Family Therapy Clinic
The OSU Couple and Family Therapy Clinic can be an especially helpful resource for students that are struggling with relationship issues. They are currently offering telehealth sessions and they aim to look at both relational strengths and concerns while addressing individual strengths and concerns. This resource does not accept any insurance but does use a sliding fee scale based on your current income. If you are interested in setting up an appointment you can call (614)292-3671 or email them at CFTclinic@osu.edu. For more information on this resource you can click on the link below:
Suicide Prevention Program
The Suicide Prevention Program at the Ohio State University aims to develop a comprehensive, effective, culturally responsive, technologically advanced, and sustainable system of suicide prevention at the Columbus and the five regional campuses of The Ohio State University. They offer a variety of resources surrounding suicide prevention to everyone ranging from the individual in distress to family members to friends. Along with resources they offer trainings that can help both students and faculty to understand the warning signs of suicide and the best ways that we can work together as a community to decrease the risk of suicide on our campus. For more information on this resource please click the link below:
https://suicideprevention.osu.edu/
For Any Students Experiencing a Crisis or an Urgent Need For Help
For anyone that is currently experiencing a crisis or is in need of emergency services please utilize the resources below:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be a good resource as it offers free and confidential support when you are in distress. This line also provides resources on prevention and crisis for you. The number for this lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. For more information on this resource and ways that they may be able to help please see the link below:
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
Crisis Text Line
If you feel that you are in need of immediate support but do not feel like talking about what is going on you can always text the Crisis Text Line. They are available 24/7 and offer immediate support from a trained crisis counselor. This is a free and confidential resource that allows for support at any time. The crisis counselor will help to problem-solve while helping to make you feel safe and calm in your time of distress. The number for this line is 741741 and you can obtain more information about this source from the link below: