Navigating your mental health in college can be difficult. Between maintaining relationships, attending classes, and working at a job or an internship, it can be hard to make time to nurture your mental health. According to one 2024 report, around 20% of college students experience serious psychological distress. This distress can lead to anxiety, mental fatigue and many other symptoms. By maintaining your mental health, you can retain clarity and avoid burnout as you keep up with your college responsibilities.

When you want to take care of your mental health in college, getting treatment is important. Medication management can play an important role in virtual mental health treatment. Medication management is all about finding a medication that works for you and ensuring adherence to your treatment plan. If you find that your medication isn’t working well, you can work with your care team to adapt your treatment as needed. Virtual medication management can enable you to get quality support through a virtual care platform. Learning how medication management works in an online setting can show you how you can get the help you need.

How does online mental health medication management work?

Online medication management is similar to in-person treatment. The main difference is that meetings are conducted virtually — connecting with your providers through your computer or phone. Treatment will involve multiple steps. There also may be cases when in-person care might be necessary, such as urgent crisis intervention. Here’s a breakdown of the process:

• Initial evaluation — Before your treatment begins, you’ll likely go through an initial assessment, which helps your care team get a better understanding of your condition. Understanding your condition can enable them to provide targeted treatment. Your onboarding process may include a meeting with a psychiatrist. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in treating mental health. Your psychiatrist can prescribe medication, when necessary, to reduce your symptoms, enabling you to focus your attention and energy on recovery.
• Plan development — After your initial assessment, your care team will work with you to develop a care plan. Your treatment provider may recommend a specific level of care based on factors such as symptom severity and duration. They will also tailor treatments, including medication, to your particular mental health needs.
• Treatment — Comprehensive online mental health treatment programs have a lot to offer. During treatment, you may have a wide range of recovery-oriented activities scheduled each week. These can include weekly one-on-one therapy sessions and frequent group support meetings. Therapy sessions can be scheduled to accommodate your college courses and other obligations. They can also be attended virtually from wherever you’re located.
• Continued support — Support doesn’t necessarily end at the conclusion of your treatment program. With an alumni program, you can continue benefiting from online alumni resources after discharge. This can enable you to maintain your mental health while you continue to navigate college and life.

3 benefits of online mental health treatment

Online mental health treatment can be a great option for college students. Virtual treatment options make care more accessible and flexible. Some key benefits of online treatment programs include:

• Convenience — If you’re a college student, it can sometimes be hard to find time for anything outside of college-related activities. In-person mental health treatment, which may involve a long commute and time spent in waiting rooms, can be a difficult commitment. Online treatment offers convenience without sacrificing quality. You don’t need to spend time traveling or waiting; instead, you can connect directly with your care team members for scheduled treatment sessions. Whether you’re on campus or spending time at your family home, support is always a few clicks or taps away.
• Comfort — Does the idea of getting treatment in an unfamiliar clinical setting stress you out? With virtual therapy, you can attend sessions in environments you choose. A familiar environment may reduce anxiety and make you feel more comfortable opening up.
• Consistency — The accessibility of online mental health treatment can encourage consistency. Online platforms enable you to connect with providers wherever you are, allowing for excellent continuity of care. However, you should confirm that your chosen provider is licensed in the state where you currently reside or attend college.

Get help managing your medication with Lightfully U’s virtual treatment

At Lightfully U, you can benefit from a comprehensive virtual treatment program tailored to your needs. Treatment includes individual therapy sessions, medication support, group sessions and more. Our Precision Care Model (PCM) uses evidence-and-compassion-based therapies to target the drivers behind mental health symptoms. With our help, you can get highly accessible, high-quality mental health treatment and medication management.

Change is possible. When you’re ready to get treatment, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of you.