Mental Health Support for Students
Students experience a wide variety of concerns during their time at college. At The Ohio State University there are many resources available to support positive mental health. In fact, there is something available 24/7. Below you will find resources available to meet mild, moderate, and severe concerns. As always, if you are having difficulty identifying the right resource, schedule a phone consultation with a Counseling and Consultation Service clinician to get help with identifying the most helpful resource for your needs.
Information provided by Counseling and Consultation Service.
Mild concerns can be related to feeling behind in your schoolwork, occasionally missing class, feeling down or overwhelmed, problems with procrastination, test anxiety, adjusting to a new environment or trouble making friends.
These concerns are all worth attention and finding skills and strategies to address them are luckily reasonably straightforward. So, we have selected grouped together resources that are a great fit for these common concerns that either on-demand or require little wait at all!
Resources Available
Mental Health Strategies Series – A series of short videos focused on skills and strategies for improving mental health.
Let’s Talk – Our informal, drop-in mental health consultations on a first-come, first-served basis. These are 15-20 minute confidential problem solving sessions with a CCS counselor
Drop-In Workshops – Hosted by CCS, these classroom style sessions are developed to help students learn about skills and strategies for supporting mental health and well-being. No appointment necessary, just stop by. Topics include anxiety, stress, resiliency, psychiatry, etc.
Dennis Learning Center – A center through the College of Education and Human Ecology that focuses on study skills, coaching and support for academic success.
Career Counseling and Support Services – This Student Life department offers holistic career counseling to meet each student's unique needs, including guidance on major or career direction, assistance with a job search and help addressing any personal barriers preventing students from achieving their goals.
Ohio State: Wellness App – A new tool to support student mental health and well-being on campus with help to find resources, set goals, build healthy habits and connect to support on campus.
Buckeye PAL – The Buckeye Peer Access Line, offered through Student Life’s Student Wellness Center, is a non-emergency talk line that provides a space for students to engage in brief phone conversations to gain peer support and learn about campus resources.
Wellness Coaching – A free service through Student Life’s Student Wellness Center that provides opportunities for personal development, focusing on your strengths and using the Nine Dimensions of Wellness model as a framework for generating goals that are meaningful for you.
SMART Lab – The SMART Lab uses biofeedback to help identify sources of stress, to problem solve ways to reduce stress and to practice relaxation techniques. Services are free for enrolled Ohio State students.
Student Mental Health Resources - The Office of the Chief Wellness Officer, Office of Student Life and College of Nursing have resources and solutions to help you, free of charge. Find information about screenings and evidence-based workshops designed to build coping skills, improve resiliency, develop healthy lifestyle behaviors and reduce stress, anxiety and depression.
When your self-care strategies are not working and you need ongoing support, it may be time to seek professional help. This may mean that you are having serious concerns with academics or experiencing problems with your mood or stress level that are getting in the way of life. You may be having thoughts of worthlessness, worry or panic that you cannot control, or you may be using substances or food in ways that do not feel right. Significant problems in your relationships or having experienced traumatic events are reasons to reach out as well.
Counselors are specialists in treating mental health concerns. Similar to other health specialists, depending on availability it may take a few weeks to start meeting with a therapist regularly. During this time, we recommend continuing to use resources and strategies from the list above. Depending on your needs, you may work with one of the many places listed below, who provide treatment on and off campus.
Resources Available
Phone Screening with CCS – Scheduling a phone screening with a CCS counselor is the first step to scheduling an appointment for individual counseling and other forms of treatment. The screening is a 10-15 minute conversation with a counselor to identify the best way to address your concerns.
Psychological Services Center - The Psychological Services Center (PSC) provides evidence-based psychological treatments for a range of issues, including depression, anxiety, substance use, coping with chronic medical conditions, PTSD, OCD and personality disorders.
Ohio State Couple and Family Therapy Clinic – This clinic provides therapy to couples, individuals, children and adolescents.
Ohio State Harding Hospital – The Harding Hospital provides the most comprehensive mental and behavioral healthcare services for adults, older adults, children and adolescents in central Ohio.
Community Provider Database – You can search and find providers based on problem area, specialty, insurance accepted and distance from campus.
Wilce Student Health Center – Student Life’s Student Health Services at the Wilce Student Health Center provides accessible, high-quality health services to support academic success and co-curricular engagement.
Student Life Student Advocacy – The Student Advocacy Center is committed to helping students navigate Ohio State's structure and to empower students to overcome obstacles to their growth both inside and outside the classroom.
Student Life Disability Services – Disability Services is available to consult with students on a one-to-one basis to review academic accommodations based on concerns including mental health, discuss concerns with classes or instructors and refer students to additional campus and community resources.
MINDSTRONG – The College of Nursing presents MINDSTRONG, an evidence-based cognitive-behavioral skills building program with a goal of improving resiliency and self-protective factors for the overall wellbeing of students, as well as faculty and staff and their families. Their goal is to leverage consistent, evidence-based interventions to help you modify and/or develop lifestyle behaviors that improve overall mental health and physical well-being.
If you are in immediate need to speak with someone or if your need is urgent, there is always support available. Severe concerns are related to dangerous and/or traumatic experiences. They may involve assault and violence, thoughts of suicide, excessive substance use, inability to take care of one’s self, hallucinations, delusions or losing the ability to communicate.
Immediate Assistance
Call CCS - The office has service available 24/7 for students in crisis and who need immediate assistance. Call 614-292-5766 and request an urgent appointment, if it’s after hours, press 2.
Go to the Emergency Room – The Emergency Room at the Ohio State University Hospital is located at 410 West 10th Avenue Columbus, OH 43210.
Call 911 – If you are on campus, this will direct you to the Ohio State University Police Division, if you are off-campus this will direct you to the Columbus Police Department.
NetCare Access - Netcare Access provides 24-hour mental health and substance abuse crisis intervention and assessments to all residents of Franklin County, 365 days per year.
Mr. Tyler Rogols is available to provided counseling services to any NGP student who is in a College of Medicine (COM) lab. These services are free, so please take advantage of this opportunity if needed! Just reach out to Tyler directly via email at hrscom.counseling@osumc.edu to schedule an appointment. Let him know you are an NGP student in your email.