Mental Health & Basic Needs Resources

Mental Health Support

We encourage students and faculty to take advantage of the following mental health and wellness resources on campus.

University Health Services (UHS) offers a safe and confidential environment with a variety of support services available free of charge and open to all graduate students.

• Uwill is an online counseling option for students. Licensed mental health professionals are available for video, phone, chat, and message sessions during flexible hours. Appointments are typically available within 24 hours.
• Togetherall is a clinically moderated online community where students can anonymously seek and provide mental health support by sharing their experiences in a safe environment.
• Connecting Badgers provides students with tips to promote their mental health to strengthen wellbeing and success. The podcast helps listeners improve their mental health so they can recognize, manage, and prevent mental health concerns. Connecting Badgers is available on all streaming platforms
• The UHS Mental Health Crisis Support Line is staffed 24/7 by licensed professionals. For crisis support, call 608-265-5600 (option 9).
• Getting started: To access Mental Health Services as a new client, schedule an Access Consultation phone screening by calling the MHS reception desk (608-265-5600, option 2) or logging into MyUHS for 24-hour web appointment booking. This is the first stop for mental health counseling services, psychiatric services, wellness services, and disordered eating assessments and treatment.
• 24-hour crisis services: UHS has 24-hour crisis intervention services for students or those who are concerned about a student. Call 608-265-5600 (option 9), 24 hours a day, any day of the year.
• If you’re concerned about someone you know, UHS has helpful resources for faculty and friends of students.
• UHS also offers individual, couple/partner, and group counseling, as well as stress management and psychiatry services.

Below are examples of group counseling topics.

• Dissertators’ Group – A supportive group environment focused on the emotional, behavioral, and organizational challenges associated with the dissertation process. Click here and open Support-Theme Groups for the schedule.
• Graduate Students’ Group – This group examines the sources of stress, ways of coping, and the role of peer support in adjusting to a role that often feels like it’s 24/7 as a graduate student. Click here and open Support-Theme Groups for the schedule.
• Graduate Women’s Group – Through offering support to others and receiving support, group members are challenged to learn about themselves, initiate change, and exercise honesty in a safe space.  Click here and open Support-Theme Groups for the schedule.
• Graduate Students of Color Support Group – UHS and the Multicultural Graduate Network will be offering a support group for graduate students who identify as persons of color (African American, African, Caribbean-American, Latino/a, Indian, Asian, Asian American Indian-American, Native American, etc). The group will explore ways in which their identity as a student of color affects their academic, personal, and social experience, through the lens of the unique identity as a graduate student. The group aims to provide a safe and supportive environment for students of color to explore feelings around racially oppressive experiences, strengthen self-concept through activities and discussion, and to help one another navigate academic and social experiences on campus. Wednesdays 12-1pm (beginning 1/25/17); EcoWell Studio (Room 1107), School of Human Ecology. Please feel free to bring your lunch.
• Drop-in Survivor Support Group – UHS provides weekly drop-in confidential support groups for victims of sexual assault, intimate partner violence, stalking, and sexual harassment. Click here for more information.

• First-Generation Students Support Group – Students who have not had the example of a parent graduting college often face numerous challenges and may feel at a disadvantage relative to college peers. Click here and open Support-Theme Groups for the schedule.

The groups listed above are just a few examples.  Additional groups address relationships, depression, anxiety, and other topics.  Groups typically meet one to two hours weekly, and may run from four to 12 weeks per semester.

• Welness Initiatives – UHS’s interdisciplinary program is designed to assist students’ pursuit of healthy mind, body, and spirit. Programs include: healthy living, nutritional counseling, mindfulness, exercise consultation, yoga, massage, stress management, and more.

• Let’s Talk – UHS offers drop-in consultations at locations around campus.  It’s free, no appointment is necessary, and students are seen on a first-come, first-served basis.  Click here for the schedule.

• Sexual Violence Prevention Program – UHS provides an online violence prevention program, which all incoming graduate students at UW-Madison are expected to complete.  Click here for more information.

• Victim Advocacy Open Access Hours – Drop-in support, information, and referral with confidential UHS victim advocates for students who have experienced sexual assault, intimate partner violence, stalking, and/or sexual harassment. Located on the 8th floor of UHS (333 East Campus Mall). Hours: M/T/W 1-4pm, and Th/F 9am-12pm.
• UWell – This is a comprehensive wellness initiative aiming to advance the health and wellbeing of the entire campus community by promoting existing resources.  Visit UWell here.
• Dean of Students Office – This office is committed to fostering a caring environment for all students. Responsibilities include the Bias Reporting Process, addressing Sexual Assault, Dating, and Domestic Violence, as well as many other issues affecting student wellbeing.
• Ombuds Office – University employees, including graduate students, can seek guidance regarding workplace concerns without fear of reprisal and at no cost to them. Click here for more information.

In addition to UHS’s services, there may be mental health services covered by your health insurance plan. If you are interested in setting up regular appointments with a therapist/psychiatrist, setting these appointments up through your health insurance by getting a referral from your Primary Care Physician is often the best way to do this.