Gayle Robbins, Ph.D., Director, Counseling and Psychiatric Services University Health Center

1. THE GPS PROGRAM: ARCHWAY ACHIEVE A UNIVERSITY HEALTH CENTER, COUNSELING AND PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM Gayle Robbins, Ph.D., Director, Counseling and Psychiatric Services University Health Center University of Georgia

2. STUDENT AFFAIRS PERSPECTIVE • Identify the mental health needs, learning difficulties, and healthy ways of coping for professional students with multiple demands. • Help students recognize the existing mental health resources on campus.

3. UHC AND CAPS MISSIONS University health center Counseling and psychiatric services CAPS provides a wide range of services designed to promote the academic, personal, social, and psychological growth of students. • The UHC exists to advance the physical and psychological health of students to support academic success and student retention.

4. CAPS SERVICES Counseling and Psychiatric Services University health Center Main Services Offered at CAPS: ADHD Testing Crisis Intervention and After-Hours On-Call Group Counseling and Workshops Individual and Couples’ Counseling Mental Health Outreach Outreach and Consultation Psychiatric Evaluation and Medication Monitoring Psychological Assessment

5. THE GPS INITIATIVE • The GPS program was created to ensure that graduate and professional students have access to quality mental health services that are discrete and confidential. • Students in specific graduate or professional programs have been identified as a high-risk population due to the stress associated with balancing academic, work, and interpersonal relationships.

6. GPS SERVICES • In order to help students reach healthy academic, interpersonal, and performance goals, CAPS offers: • Individual therapy • Assessment (wellness, basic psychological, and limited disability accommodations) • Psychiatric services • Consultation consistent with CAPS’ scope of service • Workshops as requested (stress management, sleep, meditation/yoga

7. How to Make a Referral • Students can self-refer or a Faculty/Staff/Peer may make a referral • Anyone can consult with CAPS staff member; if you are a student calling CAPS identify yourself as a student interested in the GPS Program • If you are a peer and feel comfortable, offer to support while your peer/friend call to set up an appointment • If you are comfortable, you may offer to accompany your peer/friend to CAPS if he/she wants that level of support • If in doubt, talk to a trusted faculty or staff about your concern for a peer

8. How to Make a Referral • Faculty & Staff • If you are unsure of how to approach a student call CAPS and consult with a member of the CAPS staff • Encourage the student to call CAPS for an appointment • Sit with the student while he/she calls to set up an appointment if there are concerns about safety or follow through • If the student is uncomfortable about therapy, have someone she/he trusts accompany her/him to CAPS for additional support

9. HOW TO CONTACT CAPS OR MAKE AN APPOINTMENT • Have the student call CAPS (706) 542-2273 to set up a GPS appointment • Brief information will be gathered during the initial call via a phone screening – phone screenings take approximately 15 minutes • After the phone screening, an Initial Consultation will be scheduled, depending on nature of the request for services • For an emergency during hours: • Consult with CAPS or call campus police • For an after hours emergency, call the CAPS on-call clinician via the UGA Police (706) 542-2200

10. BARRIERS TO SEEKING HELP • Student may feel therapy is not needed or will not help • Negative stigma associated with mental health concerns • Fear of how he/she will be perceived by faculty, staff, peers, and other professionals • Time management constraints • Feeling therapy is forced • Concerns about confidentiality • Denial of issues, stress, negative consequences

11. CONFIDENTIALITY • Mental health information cannot be released without written consent • Consent can be rescinded • Often the referring source wants feedback • Confidentiality does not prevent faculty, staff, or peers from sharing information with CAPS • Do not promise that you can keep information confidential • Life and safety concerns may prevent confidentiality • You can say you will keep things private unless you need additional assistance with the concern

12. CONFIDENTIALITY • GPS records are protected by a special security division within the UHC, given that some medical students may personally know or work with member of the UHC staff • Only CAPS staff with GPS access & the Chief Medical Officer can view your CAPS record • Your CAPS clinician will explain if there is a need to discuss CAPS concerns with your UHC Primary Care Physician • Under circumstances involving danger to self/danger to others CAPS staff are required by law to protect your safety or the safety of others; we will attempt to involve you in the event that circumstances suggest we need to breach confidentiality

13. EXCEPTIONS TO CONFIDENTIALITY • Immediate threat of harm to self, others, or the school or university community • We have continuing concerns for safety and/or need to assure the continuity of care • A member of the academic program or department can accompany a student to counseling and the student may give permission for communication to occur that allows the confidentiality of the counseling relationship to remain intact.

14. POSSIBLE WARNING SIGNS OF STUDENT DISTRESS • Academic • Interpersonal • Behavioral You may recognize these in yourself, your peer, or patients when you enter the profession

15. ACADEMIC • Deterioration in academic performance • Requests for extensions or special consideration • Excessive absences or tardiness • Inappropriate or disruptive behavior • References to harming self verbally or in writing

16. INTERPERSONAL • Avoidance of faculty, staff, peers, loved ones • Excessive dependency/reliance on faculty, staff, peers, or alcohol and other substances • Withdrawal and social isolation • Conflicts with faculty, staff, peers, or loved ones • Conduct violations

17. BEHAVIORAL • Depression, irritability, or other mood changes • Changes in sleep, appetite, and personal hygiene • Significant changes in weight (loss or gain) • Intense fear of not performing well in basic activities • Severe anxiety, agitation, or aggressiveness • Disorientation or unusual behavior • Thoughts, plans, or intentions of harming self or others or obsessive about death • Excessive substance use

18. HOW TO RESPOND • Talk to the student, peer, or friend privately • Do not make promises of confidentiality • Listen carefully • Point out specific observable behaviors • Express concerns non-judgmentally and respectfully • Ask direct questions • Remain calm/avoid escalation • Help the student/peer identify options and potential barriers to getting help • Be cautious about giving quick advice • Know your limits; seek consultation

19. About CAPS & Our Staff Information about CAPS can be found at: http://www.uhs.uga.edu/caps/index.html Information about our staff can be found at: • http://www.uhs.uga.edu/about/staff.html