What You Need to Know for Fall ’23: Mental Health

The beginning of the academic year brings with it a rush of emotions: excitement for new experiences and friends, awe at the vastness of the opportunities on campus, nostalgia for the days when laundry was a parent’s problem. But alongside those can come more difficult feelings: worry about classes and social interactions, fear of failure or loneliness.

The University of Maryland’s Counseling Center is a resource for all Terps dealing with stress, depression, anxiety or other mental health issues. “We want students to know that we’re here for them,” said Allison Asarch, staff psychologist and coordinator of consultation and outreach services. “With our wide range of services available, students don’t need to feel like it has to be something serious or highly acute for them to begin to address their mental health.”

Here's what incoming—and returning—students should know about the Counseling Center.

All you have to do is call or stop by.
Terps experiencing mental health difficulties don’t have to face the onerous tasks of finding a therapist who’s taking new clients, coordinating with insurance and traveling to an off-campus office. “All they have to do is call us or come in, and we’ll assess them and get them connected to the right care,” said Asarch. “They don’t have to figure out what they need—we’ll do that with them.” The center “takes a really individualized approach to a student’s care,” said Asarch, assessing and evaluating a student’s specific needs so that they can be matched with the best services for them.

The Counseling Center is available for support 24/7.
Students in crisis outside of standard business hours aren’t alone. The Counseling Center’s after-hours phone line (301.314.7651) is open once the center closes every day—weekdays, weekends and holidays. A counselor will be standing by for an immediate consultation and support, and will connect the student with appropriate care if additional help is needed. (Students who are in crisis during the Counseling Center’s standard operating hours can walk in without an appointment.)

It's not just about mental health.
Maybe you’re feeling perfectly happy—but you can’t stop procrastinating. The Counseling Center’s Wellness Series offers drop-in virtual skills sessions on 16 topics, ranging from time management to effective communication to managing imposter syndrome. The topics rotate weekly each month, then start over again the following month, and recordings of the workshops are available online for students who missed a session and don’t want to wait for the next month.