UGA Increases Accessibility to Well-being Resources

#beWellUGA

UGA Well-being Resources was created to help students build a foundation of health and well-being to improve their chances for success in the classroom and in life after graduation.

Martha Wilber, a 4th year ecology major from Atlanta, walks a slack line she and friends set up at the intramural fields.

We’re proud to share some of the ways Well-being Resources has worked to remove barriers and increase accessibility to care for over 40,000 students. Some of the initiatives launched include:

-Opened a Triage and Acute Care Clinic (TACC) at the University Health Center (UHC). This allows students who arrive at the health center without an appointment to be evaluated by a nurse, and worked into the schedule to be seen by a provider the same day if needed. In less severe cases, the patient receives home care instructions, and is scheduled for a future appointment as appropriate.

-Reworked the scheduling process at the UHC to reserve blocks of appointments that open later in the day, allowing more appointments to be found when students book online via the patient portal.

-Increased accessibility to Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS) by encouraging students to walk-in Monday-Friday 8am-5pm and ask to speak to a counselor. For some students, just being able to talk to someone about a specific issue is all that is needed, eliminating the need for future appointments. This reduces scheduling backlogs and wait times for others seeking help. As always, 24/7 mental health crisis support is available to students by calling 706-542-2273.

-Offered FREE access to digital resources like Headspace and Togetherall, applications dedicated to improving mental health. These upstream solutions have helped reduce the demand for downstream care within the system.

– Improved access to Recreational Sports opportunities by removing financial barriers. In many cases, registered student organizations can now participate in fitness classes and other recreational outreach programs at no cost.

-Installed well-being hubs around campus providing quiet spaces where students can relax, reflect, and find/access other resources on campus. These spaces also provide free access to common hygiene and personal care products.

-Made it easier to connect students with funding for emergency and/or temporary financial assistance, reducing financial strain that can impact a student’s overall well-being. Additionally, we increased resources dedicated to helping students facing food and housing insecurity.

All of these are just a few of the ways UGA is supporting the health and well-being of our students. To learn more, visit well-being.uga.edu.

About UGA Well-being Resources

UGA provides both clinical and non-clinical options to support student well-being and mental health, any time, any place. Whether on campus, or studying from home or abroad, UGA Well-being Resources are here to help. UGA Well-being Resources include: