The University of New Mexico has partnered with TimelyCare, higher education’s most trusted virtual health and well-being provider, to offer students free and equitable access to mental health support, medical care and basic needs assistance.
The partnership is an extension of campus health and counseling center resources offered by Student Health and Counseling (SHAC), with the goal of improving student well-being, engagement and retention.
“We are proud that the partnership with TimelyCare will allow the University of New Mexico to deliver a hybrid model of care, in collaboration with on-campus resources, ensuring support is available around the clock, with little wait time, and from providers as diverse as our own student body,” said UNM President Garnett S. Stokes. “The platform is also secure and protects your privacy, giving you the peace of mind you need to discuss your health needs openly and honestly with a licensed, trusted provider.”
“This is an opportunity to provide resources for students, especially those at our branch campuses, who do not have access to comprehensive care options. Telehealth is here to stay, and we fully understand the value of a telehealth option for many of our students,” said SHAC Director Dr. Stephanie McIver
The need for 24/7 access to high-quality care has never been more important. According to the American Council on Education, student mental health is the top concern of college and university presidents. It’s also the number one reason students leave college. A recent report by Gallup and the Lumina Foundation found that 69% of students in bachelor’s degree programs who considered dropping out cited emotional stress as their reason.
Through TimelyCare on their phone or other device, UNM students can now select from a wide-ranging menu of virtual care options from licensed physicians and counselors in all 50 states – at no cost and without the barrier of traditional insurance.
Services include:
- On-demand and appointment-based medical care
- On-demand mental health and emotional support (TalkNow)
- Appointment-based mental health counseling (up to 12 sessions each academic year)
- Psychiatric support
- Health coaching
- Basic Needs assistance
- Care navigation
- Peer support community
- Digital self-care content
Additionally, faculty and staff have access to support that empowers them to guide students to TimelyCare resources to help students achieve a sense of well-being, live healthier lifestyles and improve their mental health.
The partnership with TimelyCare allows the University of New Mexico to deliver a hybrid model of care in collaboration with on-campus resources. Benefits to students include:
- Convenient 24/7 care – Physical and mental health issues often present themselves outside regular business hours, and TimelyCare makes seeking support or treatment as easy and convenient as making a video or phone call. Nationally, more than 40% of mental health care visits through TimelyCare occur after regular business hours or on weekends.
- Reduced wait times – Many campus counseling centers often have a 2-3 week wait time for appointments, whereas students can typically connect with a TimelyCare provider in less than 5 minutes.
- Diverse provider network – TimelyCare’s diverse and culturally responsive provider network reflects and is proud to serve students who embody diversity in race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, age, religion and worldview, language, health, ability, sexual orientation, socioeconomic and immigration status, and more. More than half of mental health providers identify as people of color. The platform also offers professionals who identify as LGBTQIA+, speak multiple languages, and translation services to support more than 240 languages. Students scheduling services can choose to meet with a specific provider or select the first available.
- Peace of mind – TimelyCare is a safe, secure, URAC-accredited and HIPAA-compliant platform that follows campus-specific protocols to facilitate care coordination and follow-up to ensure continuity of care. Integrations with leading learning management systems ensure students have even more on-ramps to in-the-moment support whenever they need it.
Three-quarters (75%) of college students who accessed virtual mental health and well-being interventions through TimelyCare reported mental health improvements – including 100% those who presented as a potential suicide risk. More than half (53%) of all students who have sought mental health support through TimelyCare said they would have done nothing if the service were not available.
“When it comes to supporting student outcomes, the need for equitable, on-demand access to care has never been more important,” said Luke Hejl, TimelyCare CEO and co-founder. “TimelyCare enables colleges and universities to expand on-campus resources and transform the way students receive care through agency, speed, and freedom of choice that they’ve come to expect in their everyday lives. TimelyCare is proud to serve as an extension of Student Health and Counseling Center resources to create a comprehensive, whole-student care solution that empowers students to seek care in a way that feels comfortable and convenient for them.”