The vast majority of university students – 84 percent – are struggling with stress and anxiety caused by COVID-19, according to a study from META, a digital mental health platform for schools.
As universities work to stem the spread of COVID-19 while still meeting the needs of students, one university is turning to telehealth to achieve both goals.
Albany State University (ASU) in Georgia has partnered with META to provide telehealth counseling for students. Funding for the partnership was secured via a grant from the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
Via META’s platform, ASU students will be able to receive teletherapy from ASU counselors or META’s network of providers. Sessions with ASU counselors are free of charge and a limited number of free sessions are available with META’s national network of providers.
“We want to make sure any student who seeks counseling can swiftly and safely connect with a counselor,” said Dr. Terry Lindsay, vice president of student affairs at ASU. “By partnering with META, we instantly expand student access to counselors, lower their wait times, and comply with social distancing recommendations.”
To use the platform, students download the META app, choose a counselor, and receive chat, video, or voice counseling through their smartphones. Students see on the app if counselors are available online for immediate connection, or students can leave a chat message to schedule a future session, ASU explained.
