Mental Health After Hours: Addressing Student Needs At Night, On Weekends, and During Breaks

As student demand for mental health support continues to increase, counseling centers are searching for ways to meet the demand and provide students with the help they need.  

“College students now have diverse needs regarding when they can engage in care.” says Erin Andrews, LMHC, LPCC and Uwill’s Director, Clinical Affairs. “Many students are juggling full course loads with jobs, family and caregiver obligations, relationships, household chores, and general tasks associated with being human that prevent them from being able to engage with care during standard business hours.”

Common Issues Facing Counseling Centers
According to the National Education Association, 60% of college students fit the criteria for at least one mental health problem. While not all of these students are seeking care, those who are face obstacles. Most counseling centers are open weekdays during the hours of 9am – 5pm leaving gaps in coverage at night, on weekends, and during breaks. Despite their best efforts, how do schools meet the 24/7/365 needs of students?

What Happens When The Counseling Center Is Closed?
Mental health issues can happen at any time and without warning. This includes nights, weekends, and holidays when students may not be able to access the proper care they need. 

“I know for some students finding the words to use to ask for help or share their story is overwhelming to the point that it stops them from taking the step.” says Andrews “To those individuals, I want to say that you do not need to disclose everything or even share details.  You can leave it at ‘I am having a bad day’ or ‘I am not okay’.”

Visiting home for long weekends, holidays, or extended breaks also can have an effect on a student’s mental state. Common issues students may face include returning to challenging family dynamics, an absence of independence and routine, or feeling lonely while being away from friends and school communities. Students who are separated from campus may lose access to resources offered by the university which can create a barrier for those in need of mental health support.

How Uwill Can Help
Uwill offers college campuses ways to complement their offering and ensure students have access to after-hours care at night, during weekends, and on holidays. Students can select a therapist from a diverse community of counselors. Uwill counselors are licensed in all 50 states and 40 countries, providing students with the ability to receive quality mental health care even when they are away from campus. 

With Uwill, students can book an appointment with a licensed counselor based on their needs and preferences at a time that fits their schedule. This includes after standard business hours, weekends, and holidays. In fact, one third of all Umatch sessions occur outside the hours of 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday, and on weekends. Booking an appointment with a counselor through Uwill is fast and easy and same-day appointments are available.

For more pressing situations, Uwill’s Uhelp offers a direct crisis connection 24/7/365. Uhelp connects a student in crisis with a licensed counselor trained in trauma in less than 30 seconds. With no call center or insurance hoops to jump through, students receive immediate care from a licensed professional. This is a particularly helpful resource as 85% of all Uhelp calls are received outside of standard operating hours, providing students with a crisis connection they may have previously been unable to access through an on-campus counseling center.

As the demand for mental health resources from students increases, providing immediacy, choice, and licensed therapists to students is essential.

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