EVMS Student Mental Health
Director: Richard W. Handel, PhD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Basic program overview
Student Mental Health (SMH) for students enrolled in Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) and EVMS School of Health Professions (EVMS SHP) offers evaluations, consultation, and short-term psychotherapy (i.e., counseling) to all students and their spouses or long-term partners. Our program is located in the Student Health Clinic, 2nd Floor, Andrews Hall. For students located in Virginia, services are also available through telehealth. SMH services are covered by student fees and are entirely separate from your insurance benefits. No charges are submitted to your insurance provider when you seek services under the SMH program. Generally, the number of SMH sessions available to a student or his or her spouse/partner is limited to seven visits per year. SMH clinicians have no involvement in academic evaluations of clients under their care.
Detailed description of services
As noted, SMH provides evaluations, consultation, and brief psychotherapy (i.e., counseling) for EVMS and EVMS SHP students and their spouses/partners. The first appointment with SMH consists of an evaluation during which the client’s presenting concerns and additional background information are collected. The initial appointment generally lasts for about one hour. Depending upon the presenting problem, at the end of this initial evaluation, a client will either be scheduled for short-term treatment through SMH or referred to appropriate resources in the community for longer-term or specialized services (e.g., a neuropsychological evaluation). Students are encouraged to consider coverage when choosing a provider.
Short-term treatment
Sessions for short-term psychotherapy are scheduled in advance. Although walk-in appointments cannot be guaranteed due to the time-intensive nature of individual evaluations and psychotherapy, SMH can sometimes offer appointments on the same day depending on schedule availability. Currently, the maximum number of sessions per fiscal year (i.e., July 1st to June 30th) is seven.
Although the following list is not all inclusive, some common problems that may benefit from short-term treatment include:
- Adjusting to the demands of your academic program
- Anxiety (e.g., test taking, social)
- Balancing the demands of school and other aspects of your life
- Coping with mild depression
- Creating a healthy lifestyle
- Dealing with relationship issues
Long-term treatment
Because SMH offers evaluations, consultation, and brief psychotherapy, long-term treatment options are not available through SMH. When a client may benefit from long-term care, SMH will provide a referral for services in the community. In this case, the client would use his or her insurance benefits. Referrals to community providers are primarily made for long-term psychotherapy, psychiatric evaluation and medication management, or both services. Please note that SMH does not provide evaluations for learning disorders or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.
Emergency situations and crisis intervention
If you are in a crisis situation that may be life-threatening (e.g., if you are experiencing suicidal thoughts with an active intent to harm yourself), do not attempt to schedule an appointment with SMH. In this type of situation, proceed immediately to the nearest emergency room or call 911.
For a student or spouse/partner in a crisis situation that is not life-threatening, SMH will see the individual within 48 hours of his or her first contact the clinic whenever possible.
EVMS and EVMS SHP students also have access to crisis services provided 24/7/365 days per year through ODU Counseling Services. Please note that these services are provided by a third party and follow up to calls to the crisis service will be provided by ODU Counseling Services, not EVMS and EVMS SHP Student Mental Health. Crisis services can be accessed by calling 757-446-5700 and pressing option 2 on the phone tree.
Peer support
EVMS and EVMS SHP students have access to TalkCampus, an anonymous, online, global mental health community, through ODU Counseling Services. Students can access chat, groups, journaling, and wellness. TalkCampus is not an emergency service. Please use the above link to sign up and download the app.
Confidentiality
EVMS and EVMS SHP SMH has a legal and ethical responsibility to protect clients’ confidentiality. Personal information that a client shares with SMH is confidential unless one or more of the following exceptions apply:
- The client signs a form authorizing release of his or her records.
- The client reports an active intent to harm himself or herself or is deemed to be a danger to himself or herself or others.
- The client reports abuse of a child or incompetent adult.
- The client is seen by a primary care provider in Student Health for a mental health-related concern. In this case, the SMH clinician will consult and coordinate care with the primary care provider as needed.
- Disclosure is required by Federal, State, or Local law or judicial proceedings.
All mental health services provided are scheduled and documented using an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system. All activities of EHR users are monitored and recorded to ensure that no Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University or EVMS Medical Group policies regarding the protection of your personal information are violated. The EVMS Medical Group HIPAA Privacy Policy further describes how your information may be used or disclosed. Please note that elements of this policy (e.g., insurance billing) are not applicable to SMH services. Please carefully review the policy.
Scheduling an appointment
Please call the Student Health Clinic at 757-446-5700 between 8:30 A.M. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday to schedule an initial appointment. The Student Health Clinic is located on the 2nd Floor of Andrews Hall in Suite #274.
Outside crisis hotlines
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org
- YWCA Sexual Assault Crisis Hotline: 757-251-0144