SOM Counseling Orientation

If you were struggling with your mental health during medical school, how likely would you be to seek support from campus counseling services?

• Very Likely

• Somewhat Likely

• Not Sure

• Somewhat Unlikely

• Very Unlikely

What would most likely prevent you from seeking mental health support during medical school?"

Response options (select one or more)

• Lack of time/Busy schedule

• Concern about stigma or judgement

• Fear it could affect my academic record or future residency

• Not knowing where or how to access services

• Belief that I should handle it on my own

What types of support are you interested in receiving from your campus counseling & wellness services during your first year?

• Support Groups (Peer Led)

• Mental Health & Wellness Presentations

• I'm not sure yet

• Wellness Engagement Activities: (Arts/Crafts, Walk Challenge, Yoga, Game/Movie nights)

• Support Groups (Therapist Led)

^{Scenario #1:}

Sarah, a 23-year-old first-year medical student, recently moved from a bustling city to attend medical school in a small town. However, the reality of the move and the demands of medical school have proven to be more overwhelming than she anticipated. She starts to second-guess her decision about medical school, starts to isolate herself in her apartment, is not sleeping well, and has lost her appetite. She knows about the counseling services offered by the School of Medicine, but she does not know much about the counseling process and is not sure she would benefit.

• Keep pushing along. After all, she is a medical student and is invincible!

• Take the edge off with a glass of wine or two.

• Utilize the free and confidential Interactive Screening Program (ISP) to complete a questionnaire and get more information about resources.

Scenario #2

Hannah is a 22-year-old medical student. Over the past semester, been feeling increasingly overwhelmed by academic pressures, relationship issues, and personal insecurities. After struggling to cope on her own, she decides to seek help and schedules an appointment with the clinical therapist available on campus.

During her initial sessions, Hannah disclosed her struggles with anxiety, perfectionism, and self-doubt. She finds the therapy sessions helpful in gaining perspective and developing coping strategies. However, as she continues with therapy, Hannah becomes concerned about the confidentiality of her sessions and the possibility of others finding out about her counseling.

Hannah is an active member of several student organizations and has a wide circle of friends on campus. She worries that if word gets out that she is seeing a therapist, it might affect her reputation or lead to gossip among her peers. Additionally, she is concerned about how her professors or potential future employers might perceive her if they were to discover she sought counseling.

The fear of confidentiality breaches and social stigma weighs heavily on her mind. What would you do if you were Hannah?

• Continue therapy and talk to the therapist about my concerns

• Talk to trusted friends or mentors before deciding what to do

• Stop going to therapy out of concern for privacy and stigma

• Look for off-campus therapy options

• Try to handle things on my own from now on

Scenario #3

Mike is a 20-year-old medical student at UTRGV and is currently receiving counseling services with an SOM clinical therapist. He has an important exam scheduled for the morning, and it covers a significant portion of his grade for the current module. Despite studying diligently, Mike finds himself awake and restless at 2:00 am, consumed by anxiety about the impending exam. Thoughts of forgetting key information and performing poorly swirl in his mind, making it impossible to sleep.

Mike’s heart races as he checks the clock once again, realizing he has only a few hours left until the exam begins. He knows that lack of sleep will further impair his ability to perform well. Feeling overwhelmed, he considers his options.

• A.) Call or email his clinical therapist and hope she responds

• B.) Access the 24/7 Online Peer Community support via Timely Care

• C.) Reach out to Timely Care and use the 24/7 Talk Now Option.

• D.) Use the Health Coaching Feature on Timely Care to help improve sleep habits.

• Answers B, C, & D