What You Need to Know in Fall 2021: Mental Health Resources

More than a year of Zoom classes and largely virtual communication have given way to the robust culture of campus life at the University of Maryland.

But the return of crowds, noise and action can bring its own challenges. To navigate the sharp transition from online to in-person learning, UMD is prioritizing the mental health and wellness of students with resources to meet individuals’ needs.

“We know that mental health services have a broad range of types of services, and these types work for different concerns. We have a lot of [services] so that we can serve the student body knowing that one size doesn’t fit all,” said Alison Asarch, coordinator for outreach and consultation services and staff psychologist at UMD’s Counseling Center.

Read on to learn about what the center offers to help handle life’s challenges as the Fall 2021 semester kicks off:

Counseling
The Counseling Center is available for students seeking short-term support, wIth group, individual and couples counseling.

Interested students first complete an intake appointment, and placement follow-up therapy is then made. Students seeking longer-term help will be connected to a local provider in the area.

Counseling is free for current UMD students. Schedule an intake appointment by visiting the front desk of the Counseling Center or by calling 301.314.7651.

Wellness Workshops
The Counseling Center offers 16 wellness workshops each semester through Zoom, with a different session each week. Available to all students with no intake appointment necessary, this semester’s series includes:

• Coping Skills for stress, emotions and uncertainties of daily life, as well as a focus on mindfulness
  
• Academic Success, focused on organization, time management, procrastination and study skills to help students get in charge of their academics
  
• Relationships and Communication, focused on conflict, communication and connection related to social media and person-to-person relationships
  
• Resilience and Adaptability, dedicated to the expectations and thoughts of daily lives, providing skills to become more resilient and face challenges in daily life
  

Workshops are held 4-5 p.m. each weekday. Workshop access and more information can be found at counseling.umd.edu/cs/gettingstarted/.

Drop-In Hour
LGBTQ+ students, international students, students of color and veterans are eligible for the Counseling Center’s weekly drop-in hours. The one-hour free counseling sessions provide a safe space for these students, who experts say may be at a higher risk for stigmatization surrounding mental health and counseling.

Drop-in hours are held from 3-4 p.m. each weekday at the Counseling Center. Students will meet with an ally and will be asked to fill out a few brief surveys upon arrival.

Psychiatric and Off-Campus Referral
The Counseling Center can refer students who may benefit from psychiatric or off-campus therapy either to Behavioral Health Services in the University Health Center, or an off-campus provider.

“We have a very close partnership with Behavioral Health Services,” said Dr. Chetan Joshi, director of the Counseling Center. “They provide individual and groupntherapy and psychiatric medication management for students. This partnership allows our units to provide the full range of treatment services to our students.”

More information about the Counseling Center and mental health resources and wellness can be found at counseling.umd.edu.