Dear Students and Families,
We are writing with updates on our health and wellness initiatives, and we are pleased to share that we now have a new telecounseling option for students.
Students may connect with a counselor for up to 8 sessions, at no cost to families, through Uwill, a leading student mental health and wellness telecounseling solution. After vetting several platforms, we chose Uwill because:
Its team of licensed therapists is diverse and experienced.
The service has been used by several colleges with positive feedback (including Merrimack College, Dartmouth College, Boston College, University of Michigan).
The company is based in Massachusetts and provides confidential teletherapy over a secure platform.
Students may choose a therapist based on their preferences for availability, counseling focus area, gender, language, and ethnicity. Students can also choose a time that fits their schedule – day, night, or weekend. To schedule:
Counselors working with PA students will have a background in adolescent psychology and understand that, consistent with our policies, PA will need to be informed about certain issues that come up during counseling sessions (i.e. suspected harm to self or others, abuse or neglect of a minor, hazing, harassment, bullying, or sexual misconduct, and/or significant concerns regarding the well-being of a student in the PA community.)
In addition to the new telecounseling option, the Rebecca M. Sykes Wellness Center continues to provide on-campus mental health services and referrals to local specialists as needed. Following are other ways we are addressing the growing mental health needs of our students:
During winter term, members of the Sykes Wellness team facilitated workshops for students 1-2 times per week on topics including substance use, mindfulness, performance anxiety, healthy communication and boundaries, stress versus anxiety, healthy relationships, and self-care tips for success.
Over the last year, more than half of our students took a confidential screen for symptoms of depression and anxiety, and one-third took a confidential screen for substance use. These behavioral health screens help us determine which students would benefit from a conversation with a healthcare provider focused on these areas of concern.
We also invite families to participate in an upcoming Common Sense Media Connected Schools live webinar on April 20 at 5pm EST featuring psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour, “Let’s Talk About Digital Wellness: Understanding Your Child’s Emotions and Mental Health.” The webinar will feature psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour, who just released the book The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents. PA participates in the Common Sense Media school network that is offering this opportunity to families to attend free of charge. Registration is required. Here is the link to register and find additional details about the webinar: https://support.commonsensemedia.org/event/lets-talk-about-digital-wellness-understanding-your-childs-emotions-and-mental-health/e475580
We are excited to share these updates with you, including expanded access to mental health support for all of our students and opportunities for families. If you have any questions, please reach out.
Amy Patel, MD, Dean of Health and Wellness, Chief Medical Officer
Vivian Báez, LICSW, JD, Interim Director of Psychological Services