Round-the-clock mental health and crisis support is just a phone call or a click away for Illinois Valley Community College students.

The College hired Massachusetts-based Uwill Mental Health and Wellness to supplement existing mental health services and provide free, immediate teletherapy on weekends, evenings and during holiday breaks. Therapists are still available for in-person or virtual appointments during school hours through on-campus provider Transformative Growth Counseling, as are two students trained to provide peer-to-peer support.

Transformative Growth Program Director Stephanie Castaneda-Arteaga said it is important that assistance is available when students need it and reach out for it.

“Mental health crises do not operate on a school schedule and the help we provide cannot be a one-size-fits-all model,” said Dean of Student Success Crystal Credi. “Students face additional stressors outside of going to class, such as finances, transportation, childcare issues, relationship challenges, and food insecurity.”

Uwill follows a campus’s established emergency protocols regarding contacting local emergency intervention when the situation demands it.

“Several licensed therapists are available through Uwill and the staff is fluent in more than 20 languages,” said Credi. “With its experience in providing crisis hotline service and on-demand therapy to colleges and universities nationwide, Uwill understands what students face.”

Between Uwill and Transformative Growth, students have access to 10 free therapy sessions: Uwill’s six and Transformative Growth’s four.

The entire Uwill platform is accessible from any device or browser, so it is not necessary to download an app. To book an appointment online, students can visit https://app.uwill.com/, register with their student email, choose a therapist based on availability, issue, gender, language or ethnicity, and schedule a time that fits their schedule. Sessions can be conducted by video, phone, chat, or text message.

Thirty-two percent of students who request Uwill services seek and obtain same-day appointments.

Students are urged to call 833.646.1526 for immediate help if they are experiencing a mental health crisis.