Dr. Greg Vander Wal has been supporting UA students at the Counseling Center for nearly a decade, serving as executive director for the past three years. In his time, he’s seen the need for mental health support increase significantly, and this isn’t an issue unique to UA – it’s a national issue. The Mayo Clinic (2021) reports that up to 44% of college students have expressed experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression, with half of students saying they’ve felt “overwhelmingly anxious” during their time in college.
In recent years, Greg and his team have worked to increase student awareness of the Counseling Center’s services and to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues as well as to normalize self-wellness care. Their efforts have increased the demands on their office, and now more than ever, our students are requesting additional support. Even still, 75% of students who are struggling are hesitant to reach out for the help they need, but Togetherall provides a convenient and confidential outlet for students to get support from their peers under the guidance of mental health professionals.
“Togetherall gives students a space online – where they’re used to functioning and communicating with others – that provides an avenue to that support in a way that is familiar to them,” Greg said. “Students have been asking for peer community support for a long time, and this provides that in a really effective way.” Togetherall conversations are anonymous between students from participating institutions across the country, but they are monitored by licensed counselors who can reach out to students in crisis to provide access to immediate resources, with a 24/7 crisis line integration included.
Student Life’s goal is to raise $19,000 (half the cost to pilot the program at UA for one year). We have already secured a match for the remaining $19,000. This investment will allow the Division of Student Life to offer our students an innovative way to care for the well-being, allowing them to see greater personal and academic success. From participating Togetherall institutions, 93% of students using the platform report at least one improvement in well-being, and nearly 30% reported that Togetherall helped them remain enrolled. Additionally, Togetherall has uniquely reached a diverse audience of students, seeing more engagement than traditional mental health offerings from students who identify as BIPOC, trans or non-binary.
“It’s a unique way for students to engage support for their mental health and is unlike anything we currently have available to our students. It’s providing another distinct type of mental health service to the student body. Everybody’s needs are different, and we want to provide as many opportunities as we can so students can get the support they need.”
