If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.

Mental health issues are steadily increasing among college students, and it can be hard to know where to turn for help, particularly as the semester progresses. Coursework builds, finances strain, and everything can feel a little heavier.

To help manage everyday stress, you can read about mental health topics or visit the Student Health Services website for self-help resources (scroll to the “Resources/Self-Help” heading). For professional help, we’ve outlined three resources to navigate any mental health issue, big or small.

Whatever challenges you face, there is help. There is hope. Hold on.

1.  Schedule Therapy with UVU Student Health Services

UVU’s Student Health Services offers a variety of mental health resources, including individual therapy, group therapy, and couple’s therapy, all at low or no cost. It can be easy to view therapy as a last resort, but it’s one of the most effective means to lower stress, manage your semester, and mitigate mental illness. To qualify for therapy through UVU Student Health Services, keep in mind that you need to be enrolled in a certain number of credit hours.

• Individual Therapy: $10/session
  • You must be enrolled in at least nine credit hours during fall or spring, or six credit hours in the summer.
• Couple’s Therapy: $10/session
  • One participant must be enrolled in at least nine credit hours during fall or spring, or six credit hours in the summer.
• Group Therapy: Free
  • You must be enrolled in at least one credit hour.
  • Group topics: women’s therapy, men’s therapy, LGBTQ+ topics, eating/body image, faith transition, neurodiversity, students of color, and compassionate and assertive communication.

If you’re interested in therapy, you can make an appointment through Student Health Services’ online portal. Be aware that their therapy waitlist occasionally reaches capacity and there may be a waiting period before your first appointment. If you need immediate crisis support, call Student Health Services at 801-863-8876 to meet with a crisis therapist, which are always on hand Mon–Fri 8:00 am–5:00pm. Outside of those hours, chat with a counselor on the SafeUT app or call 988.

2.  Receive 24/7 Crisis Support on the SafeUT app 

The SafeUT app offers free, confidential crisis support to students in Utah, with licensed counselors available 24 hours a day, every day. No mental health problem is too small to receive help from SafeUT; call if you feel suicidal or to talk about a variety of mental health topics, including depression and anxiety, loss and grief, self-harm, or any other challenges in your life.

When you first open the app, you’ll be prompted to select “Higher Education Student” as your education status, then search for “Utah Valley University” to find your school. From there, you can start a confidential call or chat with a certified counselor.

Download the SafeUT app today so you have it on hand in an emergency. You can download it on the App Store, get it on Google Play, or visit SafeUT.org.

3.  Remember 988, the new national Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

If you or a loved one experience a mental health crisis, call 988. It’s the new number for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and you’ll be connected to licensed mental health professionals who can help. Like 911, you can call at any time to connect with local professionals.

The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline officially changed to 988 in July, and it’s already reaching more people. According to NPR, the change resulted in more than a 45% increase in calls, texts, and chats, and the calls are now answered after an average 42-second wait, as opposed to the 2021 average of two and a half minutes. If you do call 988 and aren’t immediately connected with a counselor, stay on the line; you will be connected to a counselor who can help. 

Need Assistance?

For help during a mental health crisis, call 988. To learn more about student therapy, visit the Student Health Services website or call 801-863-8876.