The staff and faculty at Germanna Community College have known for a long time that their students face non-academic barriers, many of which were exacerbated by the pandemic. That’s why advisors, faculty and staff have worked hard to provide holistic support to students.
Over the last two years, there has been an increase in demand from students for mental health support, and today mental health remains a top concern for college students taking courses on campus and online across the country. That’s why Germanna, along with 17 other Virginia Community Colleges, recently adopted a plan that would provide students with free access to online mental health care services.
Tiffany Ray, Vice President of Student Services and Equity Advancement at Germanna Community College, has overseen the adoption of these virtual care solutions for Germanna students.
“We’re increasingly seeing students want these services at their fingertips,” said Ray. “We’re excited that all our students, as long as they’re over 18, can receive counseling services at no cost to them. We’ve updated [Germanna’s] website so students can have access to a direct link to immediate services.”
Germanna’s comprehensive telemental health offerings include access to therapy sessions as well as psychiatry services, completely free for students. If a student is in a situation where they will need a referral to a provider for long-term service, Germanna will help them figure out next steps. Uninsured students will be provided with resources along with referrals.
Increasing access to mental health care for remote students
In addition to scheduled therapy sessions, students have access to 24/7 on-demand services if they need to speak with someone outside of normal business hours.
“The great thing about offering students access to online mental health care resources is that we can help students address challenges before they are in a crisis situation,” says Ray. “We know that our students, especially our remote students, don’t operate on normal business hours. They could need help at 12am or 3am, and this service gives students the opportunity to connect with someone at any hour.”
Mental health problems can impact the academic performance and success of college students. Supporting accessible mental health care for students, on and off campus, can improve academic performance, create a supportive campus culture, increase student retention, and promote suicide prevention.
“We think it’s so important for students to take care of their mental health needs. By offering these virtual services, we know we’re removing some barriers so that when they’re in the classroom, that’s one less thing they have to worry about.”