Distribution of Mental Health Resources on Campus and in the Community for UNC Students

At the start of the Spring 2022 semester, there is an array of mental health services that students can utilize, regardless of the severity of mental health issues a student may be experiencing.

These include both initial short-term therapy and longer-term options on and off campus. Here are some of the options available to students.

Counseling and psychology services:

Avery Cook, associate and clinical director of Counseling and Psychology Services, said he wants students to know that CAPS is still available.

If a student wants to start with support, they can enter. Students don’t have to make appointments or wait, Cook said.

CAPS is open Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CAPS accepts first visits between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Cook said that when a student walks in, he fills out paperwork — typically taking 10 to 15 minutes — to give CAPS an idea of ​​the student’s concerns that day. Then they sit down with a therapist and discuss a plan to help the student move in a more positive direction with their mental health.

CAPS offers different services in addition to initial assessments, such as brief therapy, group and couples therapy, referral coordination and medication management.

Cook said most services, such as initial assessments and walk-in visits, brief therapy, group therapy and referral coordination, are already covered by health fees that students pay in the framework of tuition and fees. The only thing CAPS might have access to insurance for is their drug services.

The future:

According to their website, El Futuro is “a nonprofit outpatient clinic that provides comprehensive mental health services to Latin American families in a bilingual environment of healing and hope.”

El Futuro serves the Latin and Spanish-speaking community, including recent, second-generation, or multi-generational immigrants. Clients can choose to speak Spanish or English because all staff are bilingual and have a cultural outlook on the job, said Heather Ladov, clinical services manager.

Located in Durham and Siler City, El Futuro provides mental health care to the Spanish-speaking community surrounding Durham, Orange County, Chatham County and other surrounding counties, Ladov said.

In addition to therapy and counselling, El Futuro offers case management services, which connect people to resources such as food, housing, access to benefit claims, employment resources and other needs that community members need to access and information about, Ladov mentioned.

“We also have bands,” Ladov said. “We have classes and groups where we provide group support, as well as education and information on many different topics. And then we also have doctors, psychiatrists on staff who, alongside therapists, provide consultations on medications that can be helpful in treating mental health issues.”

Ladov said there is also an option to bring family members into therapy if the patient is comfortable doing so.

“The way we understand our work as well as the way Latino families traditionally work is that it’s not just one person, they’re part of a bigger unit,” said Ladov. “They’re part of a family. And so, while there may be an identified problem with one person, it’s so important to bring the rest of the family in to weigh in and understand the dynamics and the relationships, because everything is interconnected.

El Futuro has a walk-in clinic at its Durham location Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon. Once a person enters, they complete the initial paperwork and consent to the treatment, then talk with a therapist about what’s going on and next steps.

Ladov said patients don’t need to be referred for their services and take various insurances as well as Medicare, but the best thing to do is call El Futuro and find out what insurances they have.

“I think, you know, it’s important to note that often in the Latino community there can be like a stigma around seeking mental health services,” Ladov said. “…At El Futuro, we really recognize that and want to break through that stigma to say that asking for help and seeking support is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength.”

Therapy for black girls:

Therapy for Black Girls is an online space that aims to encourage and strengthen the mental well-being of black women and girls, according to the Therapy for Black Girls website.

The website contains links to find therapists across the country for the needs of black women and girls, in addition to blog posts and a podcast by Joy Harden Bradford.

There is also a crisis text line available on the site, accessible by texting TRIBE on 741741

For answers to general questions or suggestions for podcast topics, individuals can email [email protected].

therapy for black men:

Therapy for Black Men is a website dedicated to making the process of finding therapists easier for black men, who often face stigma for needing and finding mental health support, according to their website.

Through their “Find a Therapist” webpage, individuals can search for a therapist in their area and tailor their search to their specific needs.

Therapy for Black Men can be reached at (646) 780-8278 and [email protected].

Asian Mental Health Collective:

The Asian Mental Health Collective is an organization focused on collecting and disseminating mental health resources for the specific needs and concerns of members of the Asian diaspora, according to the AMHC website.

The AMHC website also contains a directory of US and Canadian therapists where individuals can tailor their searches based on their needs and location.

AMHC also has a resource directory dedicated to helping individuals find organizations and other resources for the Asian community.

The Raleigh LGBT Center:

The Raleigh LGBT Center offers mental health resources, community resources, events, initiatives and groups tailored to the needs of the LGBTQ community.

While the Raleigh LGBT Center, located at 19 W. Hargett St. Suite 507 in Raleigh, NC, is physically closed, they are offering virtual events here.

They can also be reached at 919-832-4484 or [email protected]

National Mental Health Alliance Culturally Competent Resources of Wake County:

The National Alliance for Wake County Mental Health has a webpage with several different resources for different communities.

For more mental health resources, you can check out these mental health resource articles: https://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2021/11/university-utility-referrals and https://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2021/10/opinion-mental-health-resources-in-chapel-hill

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