Carleton University is set to launch a new initiative that will offer free, 24/7 access to virtual medical and mental health resources to all students starting from the first day of Spring Term 2024. This service is an extension of the comprehensive health care services provided by Carleton Student Health and Counseling (SHAC). The addition of these resources comes after a recommendation from the Student Mental Health and Wellness Working Group, which gathered feedback from students, faculty, and staff in focus groups and community sessions over the past year.
The new virtual resources are available through a partnership with TimelyCare, a safe, secure, URAC-accredited, and HIPAA-compliant platform. The platform follows campus-specific protocols to facilitate care coordination and follow-up to ensure continuity of care. Benefits to students include convenient care, reduced wait times, a diverse provider network, and translation services supporting more than 240 languages.
Students will be able to access virtual care from licensed physicians and counselors from anywhere in the United States. These virtual resources are free and do not bill insurance. TimelyCare resources for Carleton students include 24/7 on-demand and appointment-based medical care, mental health and emotional support, appointment-based mental health counseling (up to 12 sessions each academic year), psychiatric support (available by direct referral from a SHAC provider), health coaching, and digital self-care content, including access to meditation and yoga sessions.
The on-demand mental health, emotional support, and health coaching are also available 24/7 for students who are studying abroad or spending College breaks outside of the U.S., providing important access to care for students in these situations. To learn more about the medical and mental health resources available to Carleton students visit the SHAC website.
