Our overarching goal is having a healthier campus overall, that’s why we’re implementing behavioral health and wellness programs. We wanted to create something all encompassing. With an in-house team, we’re able to offer more well-rounded services to our students.
Student Health Services Expands Behavioral Health Options for Students
Counseling and prescription services now available on campus and virtually
Over the past year, Student Health Services has added to its primary and urgent care offerings new behavioral health services on campus, including counseling and prescription management. Three providers have joined this new team as it continues to grow to address the evolving needs of students at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University.
“Our overarching goal is having a healthier campus overall, that’s why we’re implementing behavioral health and wellness programs,” says Norlyne Whitehead, senior nurse practitioner and site manager at Student Health Services. “We wanted to create something all-encompassing. With an in-house team, we’re able to offer more well-rounded services to our students.”
Appointments for counseling and prescription services are available in person or virtually by calling (508-887-4300) or emailing (CummingsStudentHealth@tufts.edu). Walk-ins are also welcome at Student Health Services, located on the first floor of the Jean Mayer Administration Building. Students may self-refer for behavioral health services, and the cost is fully covered by the student health tuition fee.
Students considering one-on-one counseling can make an appointment with Julie Thayer (she/her), a licensed psychologist who joined the Behavioral Health Services team this past winter as a staff clinician.
“Everyone learns and functions better when they have a little space for themselves. Therapy can be a place to press pause and reflect, to build an awareness of how you’re doing in the midst of school,” says Thayer. “My goal is to help students build skills that will help them in veterinary school and beyond in their careers, proactively manage learned skills, have positive self-care and relationships, and have the tools to have a balanced experience while in school.”
If students need a prescription, psychiatric nurse practitioners Ralph Eugene and Virginia Ndoro can provide supportive talk therapy and medication management, whether maintaining a current prescription or starting a new one. Out-of-state students need a new provider for their prescriptions, and in-state students may find managing their medications at Student Health Services easier than seeing an outside provider.
“That’s where Virginia and I come in. We prescribe, order, change, and optimize medications,” says Eugene.
Students may be seen for an evaluation to determine if medication might be beneficial.
“Maybe there’s not a need for medications, but we can get that conversation started early, and follow up in a month to see if anything’s changed,” says Eugene. “Not only is the coursework challenging, but living in a new place can be challenging. There’s some adjustment and anxiety. I tell all my students, ‘No matter who you are, where you’re from, professional school is going to be challenging.’”
In graduate school, anxiety can run high, from such factors as test-taking angst and being far from home. Students commonly experience stress, depression, issues with focus and attention, and sleep disorders, which are often affected by the change of seasons. The Behavioral Health Services team can monitor pre-existing conditions with therapy and medications, and help if a mental illness suddenly presents.
“While we’re here for a crisis, it doesn’t have to be a crisis to use these services,” says Thayer. “Students can proactively seek out service if they are noticing stress. They can see us for one or two sessions to help manage that.”
The Behavioral Health team can also assess students for disorders, such as ADHD, or provide a local referral for a neuropsychological evaluation. Thayer is exploring adding student wellness workshops addressing topics like test anxiety and maintaining emotional well-being. She welcomes ideas from students.
“There are stressors and difficult circumstances that students will encounter, and behavioral health services are a crucial component to managing everything successfully,” says Ndoro.
Students who would like to learn more about behavioral health offerings can check in with Student Health Services to determine if they may benefit from counseling or medication management via phone, email, or by stopping by.
Upon entering Student Health Services, one of the first faces students see is Megan Bellerose (she/her), occupational and student health nurse, who takes students’ vitals and health histories. She will be devoting more of her time to wellness initiatives.
“I’m here to support students with their mental health and physical health by connecting them with needed services or anything they need to help them accomplish their goals. That’s what we’re here for,” says Bellerose. “If students get sick or something is worrying them, we want them to know they can come to us.”
Whitehead oversees the day-to-day operations of the clinic and sees patients for primary and urgent care visits. Rounding out the health services team are student and occupational health nurses Karen Therrien and Sereena Wassmer.
On the medical side, Student Health Services provides primary and urgent care for students and staff, such as physicals, vaccines, titer tests, and compliance with school requirements, and to work with animals in the clinic or research labs. For victims of sexual assault, Student Health Services can refer to a S.A.N.E. (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) hospital.
“We understand that a lot of students are coming from other places; they need primary care services like physicals, medicine that needs continuation, or a chronic disease that needs management—we do that as well to try to bridge that gap,” says Whitehead. “As students’ needs grow, we’re hoping to grow along with them.”
In August, Student Health Services extended its hours from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Students continue to have access to the AllOneHealth after-hours counseling service (800-756-3124). An additional resource on the Boston campus is the Office of Student Wellness, offering group counseling, health seminars on topics such as nutrition and decluttering, and group activities like yoga.
The Student Health Services team encourages students facing any mental health issues or stresses to schedule a consultation.
“As a department, we want to support students even if they’re not sure yet what they need or what support or services could be helpful,” says Thayer. “They can reach out and check in with us. We can guide students to the right services or provide one-to-one services.”