In 2023, the University of California admitted a record number of students into its freshman class. Almost 88,300 new students are being welcomed into UC’s many campus locations. This means that there will also be an influx in need for mental health resources. College can become overwhelming for any college student. Juggling academics, sports, extracurriculars and mental health is no simple task.
If you’re a UC college student needing mental health resources, you can check out this list of resources. If you need mental health support, don’t wait to find it. Contact one of the many resources listed below.
What mental health resources do UC college students have access to?
Are you concerned about your mental health? It’s time to determine which of these resources might be most impactful. If you’re experiencing thoughts or feelings of ending your life, please call or text 988, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for immediate support.
- Campus counseling centers — One resource for college students at UC is campus counseling centers. Each campus location has a counseling center that students can go to. They’ll meet with licensed mental health treatment providers for treatment sessions. You can schedule outpatient sessions or an “urgent” appointment in a crisis.
- Student-to-Student Peer Counseling (SSPC) — Peer counseling programs are another resource college students at UC can access, particularly at UC Berkeley. The Student-to-Student Peer Counseling program at UC Berkeley is designed by students to counsel other students in person or over the phone. It’s a resource for students in need of emotional and mental health support from their peers. This program often results in positive outcomes.
- LGBTQ Mentors Program — The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) Mentoring Program is a counseling program at UC Irvine. It’s designed to help LGBTQ students explore their sexuality and identity. The program provides a safe and welcoming environment made up of experienced mentors.
- Healing Highlanders — A resource that college students at UC Riverside have access to is called the Healing Highlanders. It provides mental health care and support to students recovering from substance use and addiction.
- Well-Being Peer Educators (WPE) — Students at UC San Diego have access to undergraduate student-led small groups. These groups educate the campus community on stigmas relating to campus counseling services. They also host weekly workshops dedicated to improving student mental health.
- Lyra — Lyra is another resource that college students at UC can use. It’s available to members of the UC Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). Lyra is a service that provides access to individual mental health counseling, coaching, medication assistance and self-guided wellness modules.
- Lightfully U — Students at any UC campus location have access to a virtual intensive outpatient program (vIOP) called Lightfully U. The program is for young adults in college who need professional, intensive treatment from a licensed clinical therapist for their mental health disorder. It’s an online program that provides intensive treatment to clients in school while creating minimal disruptions to their everyday routine. In fact, it’s less disruptive than traditional in-person intensive outpatient programs, which involve daily transportation and clinic wait times. Lightfully U remotely treats clients with a variety of disorders. These include mood, anxiety, personality, and trauma-related disorders. It can even address self-harming tendencies and suicidality. It’s a convenient option for busy students juggling school, sports and mental health.
If you need mental health treatment in college, Lightfully can provide it
Our mission at Lightfully is to provide high-quality mental health care to various types of clients. We believe in using a focused approach called process-based therapy, with each client’s plan fully customized for their needs. We also use clearly defined, data-driven and whole-person-centered care. Our clinicians have worked with various mental health disorders of all ages. One of our licensed clinical therapists can provide you with the mental health treatment and resources needed to improve.
Our Lightfully U program services college students through a Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (vIOP). It provides students with convenient and flexible access to evidence-based mental health care. Our vIOP provides all the same benefits of a traditional IOP, but with the added comfort of attending sessions from home. Our online program for college students consists of weekly process-based therapy sessions, family therapy sessions, group sessions and experiential activities. Our clients also have access to alumni workshops and resources for additional support. We’re confident we can help address your mental health through our vIOP. Our experts will guide you through structured programming to improve your symptoms and quality of life. For college students seeking near-immediate treatment, we can provide same-day Lightfully U admissions.
Change is possible. When you’re ready to take the first step toward a brighter version of yourself, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together toward the fullest, brightest version of you.
