Taking care of our mental health—and looking out for the people we care about—is one of the most meaningful things we can do this week. National Depression Screening Day (Oct. 8) and World Mental Health Day (Oct. 10) highlight the importance of mental health to overall wellness. Increasing education and access to resources helps break down stigma and creates supportive environments.
“These days invite us to care for ourselves and share available resources with our colleagues, family, friends, and community. Stress, sadness, ups and downs in mood, and anxiety are natural parts of life for us all,” says Kelcey Stratton, Chief Behavioral Health Strategist. “But, when these feelings become pervasive and prolonged, additional support may be helpful. Taking or sharing an online screening is an example of a simple, effective step toward getting the support everyone deserves.”
Online Screenings and Resources
Confidential online mental health screenings are available at any time for all members of the university community. The questions in the screening only take a few minutes to complete and relate to depression, anxiety, and many other mental health concerns. Screenings are a good way for a person to check in with their mood and thoughts and receive immediate results and suggestions for additional support if needed.
- For faculty, staff and students, there are confidential, anonymous screenings provided by Aiberry.
- For students, University Health and Counseling (UHC) provides additional information about screenings and resources on the UHC website.
- The Eisenberg Family Depression Center’s online toolkit provides information, tools, support and resources to guide individuals through their mental health journey.
- In addition to patient care, the Michigan Medicine Department of Psychiatry has podcasts, webinars, and more.
- For more online resources, explore the Mental Health Continuum of Care for a searchable database of the many resources that can contribute to your mental well-being.
Counseling Services - We’re Here for You
Confidential short-term counseling is available to university and Michigan Medicine faculty, staff and students at no charge. Additionally, every health plan offered by U-M provides coverage for mental health care, as well as a variety of mental health resources through the plan itself.
- Faculty and staff at the Ann Arbor, Dearborn, or Flint academic campuses: Reach out to the Faculty and Staff Counseling and Consultation Office (FASCCO) at 734-936-8660 or via email at [email protected].
- Faculty, staff, house officers, clinical fellows, and medical students at Michigan Medicine: Reach out to the Office of Counseling and Workplace Resilience (OCWR) by calling 734-763-5409 or sending an email to [email protected].
- Students, contact UHC Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at 734-764-8312 or visit the CAPS website.
- For longer-term care and for the general public, contact the Mary A. Rackham Institute (MARI) Psychological Clinic and University Center for the Child and Family. Fee for service; university affiliation is not required.
