JACKSON, Miss. ( WJTV ) – The Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC), in collaboration with the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL, launched a new telehealth clinic to offer public university students free mental health services.

UMMC will also provide therapy support for students and create a statewide medication management service via tele-mental health.

Officials said the UNITE Clinic, short for the Universities Network for Integrated Telemental Expansion, provides therapy support and medication management services to students 18 and older who are enrolled full-time at the University of Mississippi, Mississippi State University, Delta State University, Jackson State University, University of Southern Mississippi, Alcorn State University, Mississippi Valley State University, Mississippi University for Women and, most recently, the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

“We’ve done everything we can to operate the same way as the university counseling centers that students are already accustomed to, so they don’t have to readjust,” said Conner E. Ball, programming and policy director for the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior. “UNITE cuts out the waiting period by making it easy for students to self-refer and self-schedule. They don’t have to go through a scheduler, and they can make same-day appointments.”

The clinic supports students dealing with emotional, behavioral, and neurodevelopmental difficulties such as performance anxiety, feelings of isolation or sadness, sleep problems, relational issues, adjustment issues and other concerns. Officials said licensed professional counselors provide time-limited therapy support and a psychiatric nurse practitioner, supported by a psychiatrist collaborator, provides medication management.

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