What is a screening?

Generally, the first step for students to get support from Student Health and Wellness for mental health services is called a screening. These appointments are typically held over the phone. Screenings help us learn more about the types of support you are seeking. We will ask you questions like, “How can we help you?” as well as questions pertaining to your safety including thoughts about suicide and thoughts of harming others. We will discuss options for next steps that best address your needs. Resources and support may include a referral to a workshop, short-term individual or group therapy, discussion of medication services, and/or referrals to other campus or community resources.

How do I schedule a screening?

Students may schedule a screening by phone (860-486-4700) or online and should be prepared for the appointment by being in a quiet and private location. Please call us for any specific requests or accommodations.

Student Health and Wellness (SHaW) offers brief, goal-oriented individual therapy to support students in managing their mental health concerns.  Students commonly seek therapy for difficulties such as anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, eating and exercise difficulties, addiction, relationship difficulties, and academic problems.  SHaW mental health clinicians provide a safe and non-judgmental environment for students to discuss their challenges and learn new ways of coping.  Many students find benefit after one session of therapy, and some students find that additional sessions are useful.  For students who are seeking or would benefit from more intensive treatment, we offer assistance in connecting you to appropriate local providers who have experience in working with college students.

If you’re interested in our services, please schedule a brief assessment with a clinician who will assist you in determining what services will best fit your specific area(s) of concern.

In consultation with your Student Health and Wellness therapist, you may decide your presenting problem is more thoroughly understood as a medical illness that could benefit from psychiatric medication in conjunction with your counseling therapy. To help you decide if medications would be beneficial for you, your SHaW therapist may arrange for you to have a psychiatric assessment with a SHaW psychiatrist or an advanced practice registered nurse.

If you are receiving services from a community-based therapist off campus, you are expected to receive your medication services from a community provider as well. Your community-based therapist can assist you in finding a medication treatment provider in the community with whom they regularly collaborate.

In meeting with your SHaW psychiatrist or advanced practice registered nurse, your provider will assess your needs and discuss recommendations for your care.  Your medication assessment will conclude with an opportunity to ask questions during a discussion of benefits, risks, side effects of medications, as well as alternatives to medical treatment.  Once you have started taking medication, your treatment provider will plan follow up appointments with you at regular intervals to make sure that your treatment is working and that you are not experiencing any unexpected side effects.  It is important to keep your follow up appointments so that you and your care provider can monitor your response to treatment, track your progress, and make adjustments as necessary. As your symptoms come into control, the frequency of appointments for medication monitoring will typically decrease.

Psychiatric medications work by influencing chemical processes in your brain. Depending on which medication you have been prescribed and the reasons you are taking them, the rate of recovery can be highly variable. Some medications have fast-acting effects and start improving symptoms almost immediately. However, most medications take weeks or even months before they achieve their full beneficial result. Your psychiatrist, nurse, or pharmacist can help you set realistic expectations about how long it might take for you to start experiencing benefits from your medication.

Loss is an inevitable part of life, and grief is a natural part of the healing process. The reasons for grief are many, such as the loss of a loved one, the loss of health, or the letting go of a long-held dream. Dealing with a significant loss can be one of the most difficult times in a person’s life.

Different Kinds of Loss:

Feelings of loss are very personal, and only you know what is significant to you. People commonly associate certain losses with strong feelings of grief. Examples of losses are:

• Loss of a close friend
• Death of a partner
• Death of a classmate or colleague
• Serious illness of a loved one
• Relationship breakup
• Death of a family member

Subtle or less obvious losses can also cause strong feelings of grief, even though those around you may not know the extent of your feelings. Some examples include:

• Leaving home
• Illness/loss of health
• Death of a pet
• Change of job
• Move to a new home
• Graduation from school
• Loss of a physical ability
• Loss of financial security

Normal Grief Reactions:

When experiencing grief, it is common to

• Feel like you are “going crazy”
• Have difficulty concentrating
• Feel sad or depressed
• Be irritable or angry (at the deceased, oneself, others, higher powers)
• Feel frustrated or misunderstood
• Experience anxiety, nervousness, or fearfulness
• Feel like you want to “escape”
• Experience guilt or remorse
• Be ambivalent
• Feel numb
• Lack energy and motivation

Remember that grief is a process of healing.  The grief process is not linear, but is more often experienced in cycles. Grief is sometimes compared to climbing a spiral staircase where things can look and feel like you are just going in circles, yet you are actually making progress. Being patient with the grieving process and allowing yourself to have any feelings about the loss can help. If you feel stuck in your grief, talking to a counselor or a supportive person may help you move forward in the healing process.  Student Health and Wellness offers a variety of supports to students who have experienced a loss.

Sudden versus Predictable Loss:

Sudden or shocking losses due to events like crimes, accidents, or suicide can be traumatic. There is no way to prepare. They can challenge your sense of security and confidence in the predictability of life. You may experience symptoms such as sleep disturbance, nightmares, distressing thoughts, depressed mood, social isolation, or severe anxiety. Predictable losses, like those due to terminal illness, sometimes allow more time to prepare for the loss. However, they create two layers of grief: the grief related to the anticipation of the loss and the grief related to the loss itself.

How Long Does Grief Last?

The length of the grief process is different for everyone. There is no predictable schedule for grief. Although it can be quite painful at times, the grief process should not be rushed. It is important to be patient with yourself as you experience your unique reactions to the loss. With time and support, things generally do get better.  However, it is normal for significant dates, holidays, or other reminders to trigger feelings related to the loss. Taking care of yourself, seeking support, and acknowledging your feelings during these times are ways that can help you cope.

Online Resources:

• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention – comprehensive resources for survivors of suicide
• HelpGuide – information on coping with the grieving process

As a busy student, it requires special attention to remember to take your medication. The university environment can present some predictable challenges to managing your medication. Check out these strategies that may help you notice and overcome any challenges you may encounter.

Develop a Strategy for Remembering to Take Your Medications

• Use a pill box or medication organizer. These can help you remember to take your medication each day and prevent you from accidentally forgetting or from taking a duplicate dose. Once a week, fill your medication organizer with your pills for the entire week. It’s helpful to schedule this activity into your calendar so that it becomes a routine you perform at the same time each week.  Keep the pill box in a place where you will see it every day (e.g., with your keys or next to your toothbrush).
• Take your pills at approximately the same time each day.
• Set an alarm. Especially when first starting a new medication, it’s helpful to set an automated reminder or alarm on your computer or phone. Keep using the electronic reminders until you are confident that taking your medication has become a consistent part of your everyday routine.

Helpful Tools for Managing Medications and Monitoring Your Progress

• Keeping a diary of both benefits and side effects can provide helpful information for you and your provider to consider when making future decisions together about your treatment plan. A Weekly Medication Log may help you keep track of your treatment experience. You can also try the Tracking Medication Benefits Worksheet.

Feeling Better and Keeping it That Way

• The goal of treatment is to help you feel better and keep you feeling better. If you have ever been prescribed an antibiotic for an infection, you know that your provider will remind you to take all of the medication until it is finished, even if after you start to feel better. Taking your medications as directed is especially true when in treatment for a mental health condition. Most mental health disorders are time-limited, but still require many months of treatment with medication to ensure a full recovery. Some psychiatric conditions are chronic, however, and require ongoing treatment for symptom management.
• Stopping your medication prematurely once your symptoms improve can put you at risk for experiencing a potentially dangerous side effect or an undesirable relapse of symptoms. Always check with your psychiatric provider before stopping or adjusting your medication.

Alcohol and Drugs

• The use of drugs and alcohol can bring on symptoms of mental health conditions (e.g. depression, anxiety, psychosis, etc.), or can cause your symptoms to become even worse. While the use of drugs and alcohol come with risks for anyone, the risks may be much greater for individuals with mental health disorders and for those taking psychiatric medications.
• People with mental health disorders are significantly more likely than most people to develop an alcohol or drug dependency problem. For example, patients with Bipolar Disorder have a nearly 75% greater risk of developing an addiction to substances than does someone without this mental health illness.
• Mixing drugs and alcohol can lead to potentially dangerous and even lethal effects, when combined with certain psychiatric medications. Drug and alcohol use can make treating or managing a mental health disorder much more difficult, even among people who have control over their drinking or drug use.
• If you are taking psychiatric medication and are using or considering the use of any drugs or alcohol, consult your psychiatric medication provider about safety first. Your provider’s primary objective is to help you remain healthy and safe, and not to judge or reprimand you. Be open and honest with your providers to learn more about your medications and safety in making an informed decision about your drug or alcohol use.
• Visit the Food and Drug Administration webpage for more safety information about the psychiatric medications that you are prescribed.

Keep Your Medications Out of Sight

• Some of the medications you may be prescribed can be misused as drugs of abuse. Be discrete about who you tell about your medications. Keep your medications safely put away, out of sight, and even locked in a lock box if you believe you are at risk of having them stolen.

Side Effects and Medication Reactions

• Psychiatric medications can come with unwanted side effects. Before prescribing a new medication, your provider will review any predictable side effects that you may experience and any potential for more serious reactions. Even though the side effects from psychiatric medications are to be expected, in most cases these are mild and go away after a short time. For some people, however, side effects can persist for an indefinite period of time and may require you to consult with your provider for management strategies.
• Side effects are likely to occur within the first two weeks of either starting a new medication or increasing the dosage. Often side effects are a temporary reaction to the medication, and go away once your body adjusts. If you have questions about the side effects that may occur due to your psychiatric medications, or if you start experiencing new side effects from your medication, talk to your medication provider or your pharmacist right away.
• It can sometimes be difficult to distinguish a psychiatric medication side effect from one of the symptoms of the mental health condition for which you are being treated. For example, some people experience some tiredness when taking medications, while low energy can also be one of the symptoms of depression. Consult your medication provider to help you assess any persistent psychiatric symptoms and/or side effects that you may be experiencing.
• In the rare event that you experience a serious allergic reaction (e.g. a problem breathing or swallowing, or hives) immediately consult your medication provider, report to your local emergency room for an evaluation, or phone 911.

Consult Your Provider Before Changing Your Medication Plan

• If you develop side effects, talk to your treatment provider. Never stop or adjust your medication on your own. Often your provider can offer recommendations that may reduce or eliminate side effects.
• For most mental health conditions, there is likely to be more than one medication available that may work for you. If you having too much difficulty with side effects, your provider may recommend that you try a different medication to find the one right for you.

Keep All of Your Doctors, Nurses, and Pharmacists Informed About All of Your Medications

• It is extremely important to tell your provider and pharmacist about all of the medications (prescription and non-prescription) you are taking. Similarly, if you should be prescribed a new medication by a provider other than your psychiatric provider, always inform them of any psychiatric medications. All of your providers can check if there are any drug interactions that may result in unwanted side effects or that may affect your psychiatric treatment.

• The price of psychiatric medication can be highly variable, and sometimes students don’t fill their prescriptions because of cost. 
• Ask your provider or pharmacist about generic drugs options rather than brand names to save money. Generic prescriptions contain the same active medication as brand name drugs and are usually less expensive.
• Some discount stores have pharmacies with low-cost prescription programs (e.g. Wal-Mart, Target). In addition, some pharmaceutical companies have programs for those who cannot afford the full price. Consult with your pharmacist to learn if you qualify for a program to help you pay for medication.
• You can save money by inquiring with your insurance plan’s Pharmacy Benefits Management program about mail order prescriptions or larger quantity discounts. Some insurance plans have programs that allow for 90 day refills and / or mail order medications that can save on the cost of your treatment.
• In factoring the financial cost of your treatment, remember that treatment could save money in the long run by helping you avoid unwanted consequences of an untreated medical condition. Untreated mental health disorders could lead to expensive medical visits, hospitalization, lost wages from missed work, poor academic and job performance, and additional tuition from a prolonged academic career.

Long Academic Breaks, Study Abroad, and Other Travel Considerations

• Before you leave home, count your travel days to make sure you have enough medication to last through your entire trip. Be sure to have your prescription refilled before leaving or call your provider if you do not have sufficient medications to return home from your travels.
• If you are planning to be away from home for more than one month, consult with your pharmacist or medication provider about obtaining an early refill authorization to ensure you can take additional medications with you on your trip.
• If you are taking a medication that requires you to have blood drawn frequently, contact your provider to find out if you need to have blood work done before you leave, or at a facility away from home during your travels.
• Always travel with your insurance information and your provider’s telephone number in case you require medical attention while away from home.
• If you are traveling by air, always pack your medication in your carry-on luggage to avoid being without your medication should your luggage get lost or delayed in arriving at your destination. Make sure that you travel with your medications in the pharmacy issued bottles that bear your name and the name of the medication.
• When traveling internationally, some countries may ask to see a paper copy of your physician issued prescription to document even if your medications are in pharmacy-issued bottles. Make a copy of your prescriptions before having them filled at your pharmacy so that you can include copies of your prescriptions with your international travel documents.
• If you are studying abroad, consult with the coordinator of your study abroad program for information about how to locate medical providers abroad in case of any emergencies. Alert your medication provider of your plans to travel abroad to discuss how best to stay in contact if you need a refill or a consultation.

Long Breaks Away from Campus

• When you are away for summer break, or any breaks of one month or longer, consult with your provider for instructions on how to get your prescriptions filled while you are away. It may be helpful to identify another provider in the area where you are traveling in the event that you require medical attention or a prescription while you are away.
• Be sure to take your insurance information and your medication provider’s phone number with you.
• When traveling within the United States, larger national chain pharmacies are able to transfer your authorized refills from one store to another store within their chain. Transfers between different chain pharmacies are also possible, but require a little more coordination between pharmacies. Before you leave, consult with your local pharmacist about how to arrange for an electronic transfer of refills to a pharmacy located in or near your travel destination. Make sure that your provider has authorized enough refills to ensure that your medications will not be interrupted while you are away.

Student Health and Wellness provides no actual endorsement of these practitioners who have submitted information to SHaW declaring their interest in being on a SHaW referral list for UConn students. Because mental health treatment is an ongoing commitment, it is important that you find care provider with whom you feel comfortable. Good care providers don’t just prescribe medication; they listen to your concerns, help you overcome difficulties, and make treatment a collaborative process. See the Referral Services tab below.