Georgetown recently announced new telemental health programs for all degree-seeking students, staff, and faculty to complement the university’s existing mental health resources. Through the new HoyaWell resource—a partnership with TimelyMD, a student-first telehealth provider—students around the nation have around-the-clock access to counselors and psychiatrists with expertise in working with university students.
The expanded service, which supplements the Office of Counseling and Psychiatric Service (CAPS), will help support students at a challenging time. In recent surveys by the Georgetown University Student Association, nearly all students said the pandemic has negatively affected their mental health, and more than 60 percent indicated that the coronavirus “negatively impacted their access to Georgetown mental health services.”
Ensuring students receive needed care and support
Georgetown President John J. DeGioia praised the HoyaWell service and the efforts to address challenges presented by COVID-19. “Our commitment to formation—the development of the authentic self—is linked with an understanding of the need to address the challenge of mental health and well-being for our young people,” he says. “During this difficult moment, it’s more important than ever to identify additional ways for our students to receive the care and support they need.”
“We know that our students and community are dealing with a very complex time, and mental health support is especially vital right now,” says Todd A. Olson, vice president for student affairs. “While our excellent staff at CAPS continues to be the core of our mental health services, we are pleased to add the new resource of HoyaWell.”
Students also have expressed optimism about the new resource. “I am so glad that Georgetown has taken steps in the right direction to make access to such resources more equitable,” says Kate Barranco (SFS’23), director of student wellness for the Georgetown University Student Association. “While there is always more work to be done, HoyaWell is one way that the university is living up to its value of cura personalis.”
Virtual therapy, coaching for faculty and staff
HoyaWell builds on another recent investment by the university to support the mental health and well-being of the campus community. In December, Georgetown announced Mindset, free virtual therapy and coaching to all U.S. based, benefits-eligible faculty and staff, provided in partnership with national primary-care network, One Medical. The virtual therapy resource complements the existing services of the Faculty and Staff Assistant Program.