Navigating Wellness: A Guide to UNCC Student Health Services and Resources
The mental and physical well-being of the Niner Nation is of critical importance, and UNC Charlotte offers a wide array of resources to support its students' holistic health. Recognizing that multiple factors contribute to mental health and that opportunities for student well-being exist within every space of the University ecosystem, UNC Charlotte has adopted a proactive stance, integrating outreach and prevention efforts to foster positive student mental health outcomes.
Comprehensive Medical Care at the Student Health Center
The UNC Charlotte Student Health's mission is to provide comprehensive, high-quality healthcare, outreach, and health education to students, regardless of insurance coverage. The Student Health Center provides comprehensive medical care, disease prevention, health education, and various specialty services to all registered UNC Charlotte students, irrespective of their health insurance. Student Health is accredited by The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC), a leader in ambulatory (out-patient) health care accreditation. Its high standards require Student Health to maintain excellent quality of patient care. The center is in-network with MedCost and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina. The Sexual Health Program is also part of the Student Health Center.
Addressing Mental Health Needs
Traditionally, university counseling centers shoulder the bulk of student mental health support services. For leaders in student mental health services at Charlotte, this philosophy isn’t just theoretical; it’s ingrained in their practices. Guided by student input, data-driven insights into student needs and a commitment to providing prompt access to care - offering same-day initial appointments-the university has adopted a proactive stance where outreach and prevention efforts are integral to fostering positive student mental health outcomes.
The Center for Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) supports the holistic well-being and academic success of all UNC Charlotte students and contributes to a healthy campus climate. Over the past year, CAPS piloted and implemented a ‘personalized care model’ that extends beyond individual counseling as a primary form of support, offering an expansive list of services within CAPS as well as through other campus and community services. These include groups, workshops, drop-in problem-solving consultation sessions, self-paced educational materials, outreach programs and individual counseling. Same-day initial appointments enhance the accessibility of timely care and position UNC Charlotte to address a situation before it worsens. Access teams composed of counselors are available Monday through Thursday for morning and afternoon appointments to meet with students requesting a first appointment on a first-come, first-served basis - for both assessment and recommendations for moving forward. On Fridays, a smaller group of counselors provide same-day appointments for urgent or crisis-related needs. Between fall 2022 and fall 2023, the average wait time for an initial appointment decreased dramatically from eight days to zero, leading to a significant increase in students keeping their initial appointments - from 64% to 98%.
Group therapy sessions for six to eight students allow more students to access talk therapy than is possible with individual sessions. They also help participating students see they are not alone in their feelings; and group members tend to help one another. In addition, access to 24/7-available resources and services that support mental health exist to provide continuous support from professional staff and student peers. These include Togetherall, accessed by a downloadable app, which creates a safe and monitored community of student peers who are seeking and sharing support. ProtoCall, an after-hours phone service, empowers students with around-the-clock access to licensed clinicians working with CAPS to support them through acute or urgent mental health needs.
Read also: Understanding GPA at UNC Charlotte
Center for Integrated Care: A One-Stop Shop
Among its many initiatives is the creation of its newest student health department, the Center for Integrated Care, a “one-stop shop” for student wellness needs. The Center for Integrated Care bridges the gaps that exist naturally between UNC Charlotte’s various health resources and serves as a source of connection and referral for students who may need resources beyond those provided by the campus community. The one-stop shop concept refers to assessment and triage of a student’s psychosocial functioning, the streamlining of services and increased student utilization of on- and/or off-campus resources, all in support of holistic wellness and academic persistence. This paradigm of bridging services refers to the consistent and open communication for all providers involved in a student’s health and wellness care plan via the provision of clinical case management. During its first academic year, CIC served 277 students needing assistance identifying barriers to their success, specifically as they were precipitated or impacted by their physical and emotional well-being.
CAPS serves students who have self-identified as having emotional and/or mental health concerns. CIC provides students an opportunity to explore their concerns holistically and connect them to resources that help them achieve wellness in that area. CIC is well-positioned to support students with complex, intersecting needs across life domains; helping students navigate their myriad concerns to ‘sort through the chaos’ and find optimal points of intervention.
Promoting Wellness Through Recreation
University Recreation operates as a part of the Health & Wellbeing Unit within the Division of Student Affairs. University Recreation is an essential pillar of the integrated student well-being model. Through UREC, students gain access to peers with similar interests, which enhances a sense of belonging. Students also reap the benefits of physical activity, which aids the body’s innate tendency for resilience and proactively mitigate stress.
Recovery Support
UNCC's CRC is a community for students in recovery from mind-altering substances.
Additional Campus Resources
- Peace Haven: UNC Charlotte’s first designated meditation and reflection space started as a student-driven initiative. Peace Haven is located in Room 366 of the Cone University Center.
- Parking & Transportation Services (PATS): PATS supports students, staff, & faculty traveling to and around the campus through parking management, on-campus shuttle services, and connections to Charlotte city-wide transportation services, such as the Light Rail.
- Atkins Library: Consisting of 10 floors and countless study areas, Atkins Library fosters intellectual discovery by offering an impressive collection of scholarly materials, including robust special collections and the most up-to-date scholarly journals, and services, including interlibrary loan and the Writing Resources Center.
- Barnes and Noble at UNC Charlotte: Barnes and Noble at UNC Charlotte offers a great selection of textbooks, supplies, 49er apparel, magazines and gifts, and cards and convenience items! In addition to offering new textbooks, the bookstore also has rental and eBook options available.
- Dining Services: UNC Charlotte offers a wide variety of dining options in different locations across campus. From buffet-style dining at Crown Commons and SoVi to retail dining at over 20 locations, you’ll find something that suits your taste, budget and food preferences.
- Pharmabox: Pharmabox is a specialized distributor of over-the-counter (OTC) products and essentials.
- NC MedAssist: Many Americans have difficulty accessing their medications due to affordability whether they are insured, uninsured, or under-insured. NC MedAssist is the only non-profit pharmacy service in North Carolina.
A Proactive Approach to Student Well-being
At UNC Charlotte, the approach to delivering mental health services has widened, the result of committing to prevention in each of five departments: the Center for Counseling and Psychological Services, the Center for Integrated Care, the Center for Wellness Promotion, Student Health and University Recreation. There also is a concentrated effort to provide nationally recognized training and public education programs - led by staff within Counseling and Psychological Services as well as from outside of CAPS - such as Mental Health First Aid and Question, Persuade, Refer to faculty, staff and students. During the 2022-23 academic year, 632 campus community members took advantage of these sessions. Because multiple factors contribute to mental health challenges and opportunities for student well-being coexist within every space of the University ecosystem, UNC Charlotte's aim is to empower students to seek support through their most comfortable spaces or wherever a spontaneous need arises. Support from the UNC System is interwoven into a strategic ‘prevention and response’ approach. Opportunity to better understand these resources through actual use on campus amplifies the ability to tailor the model of student care with intentionality, acknowledging UNC Charlotte nuances and the unique needs of its student population.
Read also: Study Abroad with UNC Charlotte
Institutions must be strategic in deploying the resources they have and educating students on steps they can take - for example, increasing mindfulness and reducing social media use - to manage their mental health. Group counseling, a unit to triage student mental health issues, apps like Togetherall and employee trainings like Mental Health First Aid provide wrap-around services to care for the needs of students. It is not one thing, but a series of things that weave a web of support for students.
Read also: Comprehensive Guide to UNC Charlotte Jobs
tags: #UNCC #Student #Health #services #and #resources
