The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) Health and Well-being department has released a new resource aimed at assisting students in accessing behavioral health services on campus. The guidebook, titled “A Student’s Guide to Accessing Behavioral Health Services at UIC,” comes in response to findings from the Healthy Minds Study, which revealed that around 25% of students are unaware of how to access mental and emotional health services.

Hosted on the Public Health Initiatives website, the guidebook seeks to improve understanding of healthcare in the United States, health insurance options including CampusCare, and how to navigate behavioral healthcare both at UIC and externally. It also highlights campus resources for mental-health support and crisis intervention.

To complement the guidebook, a 30-minute video detailing pathways for accessing these services is available on the UIClife YouTube channel under the Health and Well-being playlist. Faculty members are encouraged to familiarize themselves with this material as they often serve as initial points of contact for students seeking guidance.

Michael Ginsburg, Special Advisor to the Chancellor for Student Affairs, and Raphael Florestal-Kevelier, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Health and Wellness, emphasized the importance of this resource in empowering students to seek necessary care confidently. They invite feedback for continuous improvement of this tool designed to better serve UIC's student body.

"Your feedback for this effort is also invaluable," stated Ginsburg. "Our goal is to continuously improve this resource to better serve and support our students."