University Of Texas To Invest Millions In Student Mental Health And Related Services

The University of Texas System will spend $16.5 million dollars over the next five years to expand and improve student mental health services, student safety and alcohol education resources at its 13 campuses. The new investments were approved at a special meeting of the System Board of Regents this week.

“Student safety is always top of mind for the UT System Board of Regents,” said Chair Kevin P. Eltife. “Our unanimous support of new funding speaks to the Board’s commitment to ensure the very best learning environments for all students across all UT institutions.”

According to University of Texas (UT) Chancellor James Milliken, administrators recommended the enhancements based on national studies and institutional data showing a significant increase in the diagnosis and treatment of student mental health issues – including stress, anxiety and depression – over the past decade.

For example, the percentage of UT students diagnosed by and/or receiving mental health services from a professional increased from 20% to 30% from 2011 to 2021. Student counseling centers in the UT system reported a 38% increase in psychiatric hospitalizations during the same period.

“Student safety and wellness remain a most critical priority for UT institutions, and the Board of Regents’ newest investment will support, educate and treat students at all UT academic and health institutions throughout their journey toward a degree,” Chancellor Milliken said in the system’s announcement. “Our campuses are grateful for the timing of these new resources that will allow them to expand and enhance the student services determined to be most effective over the past 11 years and during the pandemic.”

The expanded student mental health initiative will continue to be overseen by UT Austin, which has led efforts to address various student wellness and safety issues for the system since 2011.

According to the Board agenda, the allocation of $16,500,000, which will come from currently available funds, will fund the following five initiatives for five years:

(1) Mental Health Crisis Line ($900,000)

This initiative provides 24/7 crisis assessment, stabilization, intervention, and referral services to students experiencing mental health crises. The services will be customized for each institution in the system and will be available when on-campus counseling centers are closed. The crisis line will also be available to students who travel abroad, have internships, or are away from the university for any reason.

(2) Expanding Clinical Mental Health Services to Students Via Telehealth Support ($10,00,000)

This component will involve contracting with vendors to augment accessibility to clinical services beyond that which campus counseling centers can provide by utilizing networks of providers via telehealth. It will include 24/7 services to students via chat or phone, ongoing clinical appointments with the same clinician via phone or video, and clinical availability in over 150 countries and in multiple languages.

(3) Web-based Alcohol Education and Sexual Assault & Harassment Prevention for Students; Harassment, Safety, and Other Training for Faculty/Staff ($2,250,000)

This initiative will provide web-based alcohol and sexual assault prevention education, among other courses, designed specifically for college students.

(4) Faculty and Staff Training ($1,500,000)

This component includes two forms of training: (1) vendor-supplied online programs for recognizing and responding to students who are exhibiting concerning behaviors or are in distress and (2) an in-person suicide prevention training program based on the expertise of leaders within the UT System.

(5) Thrive at UT Mobile App ($150,000)

Thrive at UT is a smartphone app designed by the Counseling and Mental Health Center at UT Austin. It uses videos, guided exercises, and interactive assignments to teach students core skills related to emotional intelligence, mental health, and well-being, and uses the messaging feature of mobile phones to remind users to practice the concepts.

In addition, UT will spend $1.7 million to evaluate the effects of these new services. Of that total, $250,000 will go for the American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment, and $1,450,000 will be allocated to UT Austin for consulting and administrative support.

The UT investments come as colleges across the nation report struggling with a spike in mental health concerns among their students, a crisis that many experts attribute, at least in part, to the ongoing impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.