Telehealth Company Provides Free Mental Health Care for Students

Dealing with mental health problems is never easy, and finding qualified, affordable care in a timely fashion is nearly as difficult. TimelyCare, which PVCC students can access free of charge, is a telehealth company aimed at connecting students with mental health professionals to talk about anything, anytime.

After signing in with a school email, TimelyCare requests some personal information: sex, gender identity, race and preferred language (English, Spanish, or Chinese). TimelyCare grants access to many features immediately, but to use TalkNow — 24/7 mental health/emotional support — or to schedule an appointment with a licensed counselor, new users are required to enter medical information and history.

There are two kinds of phone support: on-demand and scheduled. TalkNow is available 24/7 and connects users to a mental health professional quickly; once a reason for the visit is selected, a provider will call the user’s phone number ASAP. Scheduled appointments are available with many providers. Their names, faces, titles, qualifications, languages spoken, areas of focus, and bios are displayed to help users choose someone they feel comfortable with.

TimelyCare also has a service to help students meet their basic needs. Click “Get Assistance” and select an option from legal, work, family care, finance, transit, housing, and food. Patient care advisors will “connect students with local government agencies, non-profit organizations, and/or programs on their campuses that will help with their in-the-moment needs… Actual examples include helping multiple students find low-rent housing, identifying local support groups for the student-parent of an autistic child, and connecting a student in an unstable relationship with a safe shelter,” according to TimelyCare’s website.

The community page is a place to anonymously speak one’s mind; posts’ subjects include anxiety and coursework, family and friends, LGBTQ+ and relationships, and more. Tag filtering allows users to find posts from others who might share their experiences. Anyone can respond to posts in the live feed to offer advice, encouragement, or simply sympathies.

Under the “Explore” tab, there are guides for learning about self-care and becoming equipped to deal with mental health challenges. Many videos feature Dr. Andrew Kim, a board-certified psychiatrist, teaching concepts like how to set healthy boundaries or improve stress management. Other videos include yoga instruction, guided meditation, and healthy meal preparation.

Students can sign into their free TimelyCare account by going to “Student Affairs” on the PVCC website and selecting “Mental Health Services.”