About 10 million Americans experience seasonal depression or seasonal affective disorder (SAD), according to researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch. Luckily for Union students, mental health services on campus and online are free thanks to the Wicker Wellness center. The Concordiensis has prepared a guide on how to access these resources, including what is offered.
First, to schedule any appointment with the Wicker Wellness Center, students should call 518-388-6161. All services within the wellness center are confidential unless a student poses a risk to themselves or others.
Students can schedule appointments with Wicker’s staff counselors for individual, group, drug and alcohol, and other types of counseling. Students fill out a detailed intake questionnaire when they first start, and students can switch counselors if they want to. Wicker counselors cannot have long term counseling with students due to demand, but Wicker has partnered with UWill to allow students to seek free, long term counseling. Students can register on the UWill website using their Union email to take advantage of this option.
In addition, Union students can have medications prescribed and managed through the wellness center. A nurse practitioner, Angela Stefanatos, sees students on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons to both prescribe medication and manage ongoing prescriptions. Medications can also be delivered to the wellness center from an off campus prescription filler, but students will be charged a $5 service fee in addition to any copays from the medication. Students can also have their ADHD medications managed through Stefanatos, but students must provide a current letter of testimony from their home provider. Like with other services, Union students can schedule appointments with her by calling the wellness center. While this service is available, Wicker cannot test for ADHD or other learning disabilities.
On the weekends and after Wicker’s operating hours, students can also access mental health counseling. There is always a counselor on call, and students can call campus safety at 518-388-6911. Campus safety will direct students to the on call counselor at the students’ request, no matter what time of day or night it is.
Notably, Wicker also has 6 therapy dogs available to walk and play with throughout the week. The dogs’ names are Ace, Eve, Hunter, Molly, Margo, and Sparky, and there are typically 2 available on any given day. Students can see them as they walk into the wellness center and are able to take them on walks during Wicker’s operating hours. Students can check them out of the wellness center by going to the front desk.
In addition, Wicker does offer counseling services and physical check ups for sexual assault instances. All conversations are strictly confidential, and Wicker does not require that Union students report any assaults to Union’s Title IX coordinator. Union will also grant students amnesty for any drug or alcohol violations that occurred at the time of the assault. Aside from scheduling an appointment, Union also has a sexual assault resource hotline at 518-388-6600 and a Title IX counselor who can be accessed at 518-388-6865.
Union wants to ensure that all students have access to mental health resources that they need, and the Wicker Wellness center provides plenty. Aside from prescription charges, all services are free and can be scheduled by calling 518-388-6161.
