My SSP Helps Aggies’ Psychological Well being Anytime, Anyplace

 

Roughly 3,200 Aggies downloaded and registered with My Scholar Help Program (My SSP) within the first 12 months of Texas A&M College’s partnership with the psychological well being assist software. Getting the useful resource into the palms of all college students is a prime precedence for college leaders because the partnership enters its second 12 months.

“We’re working ambitiously at the start of this semester to get the phrase out so college students can obtain the app so it’s there after they need assistance,” mentioned Nancy Fahrenwald, affiliate vp for College Well being Companies.

My SSP makes psychological well being sources accessible for all college students 24 hours per day, seven days every week. The free, confidential service affords emotional well being and wellbeing assist by way of the cellular app or web site. And irrespective of the scholar’s bodily location, they will request assist at any time by a cellphone name or the app’s chat characteristic.

Digital platforms are interesting for his or her comfort, Fahrenwald mentioned, however are additionally critically necessary for college kids who might have psychological well being care wants that stretch past typical work hours – about 70 % of scholars related to My SSP after 5 p.m. or on weekends.

One other notable takeaway from the primary 12 months: Greater than 70 % of scholars reported tat they’d by no means reached out for psychological well being assist earlier than utilizing My SSP.

“They’re on their telephones more often than not, and in the event that they’re struggling, it is likely to be a straightforward means for them to succeed in out and say, ‘Hey, that is one thing I’m anxious about, do I would like skilled assist?’” mentioned Kristie De La Garza, assistant director of Counseling and Psychological Well being Care.

My SSP has been a useful addition to the college’s efforts in offering psychological well being assist for all college students by encouraging early intervention and offering equitable entry, De La Garza mentioned. Notably, about 13 % of customers within the first 12 months have been worldwide college students. My SSP has devoted counselors who can present assist in Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, French and English.

James Deegear, interim senior director of Counseling and Psychological Well being Care, mentioned he encourages all college students to hunt assist by My SSP for any problem they’re scuffling with.

“Whether or not they’re coping with melancholy, anxiousness, adjusting to varsity, relationship points, stress or simply uncertainty coping with the world, these are growing adults, so a number of occasions it’s their first time making an attempt to navigate these points – and also you don’t should attempt to do it by yourself,” he mentioned.

Along with short-term counseling appointments the place college students can request ongoing assist for a number of classes from the identical counselor, the service additionally offers Aggies entry to an intensive library of articles, podcasts and movies addressing all kinds of psychological well being and wellbeing matters.

Fahrenwald famous that 20 % of customers reported they’d by no means spoken with a good friend, member of the family or advisor about emotional challenges. My SSP is a secure, handy means for college kids to discover psychological well being assist for the primary time, she mentioned.  For instance, they will full nameless assessments that present useful suggestions on their psychological well being.

“I hope that everybody who is aware of about My SSP promotes it to others, as a result of that’s how we are able to get it subtle inside our college neighborhood,” Fahrenwald mentioned.

One distinctive characteristic of the app that customers could also be unaware of, she mentioned, is a characteristic that permits college members and workers to contact My SSP for recommendation on how one can assist a scholar.

“The funding President Banks has made in psychological well being assist for our scholar by this digital platform has been large,” Fahrenwald mentioned. “We’re working rapidly to capitalize on that dedication to assist psychological well being as a result of everyone knows it’s necessary, it doesn’t matter what position somebody performs on the college.”

For extra details about My SSP and step-by-step directions on downloading and utilizing the app, go to the Texas A&M My SSP web site.