From coping with academic stress to personal concerns, students are discovering and utilizing the on-campus counseling services and support that are available to them through BetterMynd.
FAMU counseling services has partnered with BetterMynd, an online counseling resource that has collaborated with over 100 universities. It focuses on enhancing mental health support for college students. Through this platform, students can choose a counselor that is right for them and comfortably engage in private therapy sessions with the first four free of charge, courtesy of FAMU.
With these services available to students, many have taken advantage of them and have expressed the benefits of speaking with an online therapist.
Justyn Grant, a master of architecture student, has used the BetterMynd counseling service and shared his experience with it.
“I was a little nervous because I’ve been thinking about going to therapy for a while, and I’ve had some reservations about going because I’ve heard horror stories about therapy, but the person I chose to lead my session was very close to what I identify with and it made me feel comfortable,” Grant said. “I feel like therapy in general is important because it’s like maintenance for your mental health, because a lot of people will go to the gym to keep up with their bodies, but rarely go to therapy to keep up with their minds. I sought out therapy because I’ve been encountering academic stress and other minor issues, and I can say that using BetterMynd has given me a space to explore them and the professional guidance to help me get a better understanding of these things.”
According to BetterMynd, over 50% of college students have difficulty finding treatment for mental health concerns due to financial hardships, lack of on-campus resources, and long wait times at community resources.
Grant says he liked having the option to see a therapist online.
“I was excited to see that FAMU had something like this for us that’s so easily accessible.”
“I thought it was going to be at a building, but when I realized it was on Zoom, I was relieved because not only are they giving us access to therapy resources, but they’re making it so that you can do it from the comfort of your home,” Grant said.
“With FAMU making this so accessible it’s going to help people work through things that they thought they didn’t have the time to. I’ve already sent the service to my friends, and I’m advocating for it because I feel like therapy by itself is important, but the fact that it’s so easily accessible it’s like there’s just no excuse at this point,” Grant added.
Although these helpful resources are available to students, many are still unaware of BetterMynd and its services.
Chloe Allen, a fourth-year biology pre-med student, said that she was unaware of the BetterMynd services offered to students.
“Before this was brought to my attention, I was only aware of the in-person counseling services on campus that are free for students, which I have utilized before. I also think that it’s amazing that the first four sessions through BetterMynd are free for students considering how expensive therapy can be without insurance,” Allen said. “I think that this partnership with BetterMynd enhances the overall mental health support compared to standalone counseling services. I believe that the university could do a better job of informing students about these services by either broadcasting it on social media or sending out mass emails along with steps on how to easily access it, that would make a big difference.”
Allen said therapy has aided her mental health and stressed the importance of seeking out therapy.
“My first year at FAMU took a toll on my mental health to the point where I considered returning home. I sought out the mental health services through FAMU’s website to help with my emotional state and help me stay in good standing because I believe that mental health comes first before anything,” Allen said. “College students’ mental health is especially important because most students are far away from home and their loved ones and can face hardships trying to adapt to their new environment and being on their own. If students’ mental health isn’t well it could impact their concentration, energy, communication, and could potentially turn into anxiety and depression. Being that the BetterMynd services are geared toward college students, they may feel more comfortable and open to going to therapy.”
The BetterMynd counseling services are available 24/7 to students. You can sign up by going to BetterMyndand creating an account with your affiliated school email or contacting (844) 287-6963.