Randolph College expands mental health resources through TimelyCare

Randolph is partnering with TimelyCare, a virtual health and well-being provider, to enhance students’ access to mental health support and basic needs assistance.

TimelyCare, which can be accessed by phone or other device, includes a wide-ranging menu of virtual care options from licensed physicians and counselors in all 50 states.

Services include on-demand mental health and emotional support, appointment-based mental health counseling, health coaching, digital self-care content, and a peer support community.

“We’ve been interested in telehealth for a while, and TimelyCare is the largest provider right now to colleges and universities in the state of Virginia,” said Chris Lemasters, dean of students. “They serve over 300,000 students in the region. I was able to talk to peers at those institutions to see what their experience was with the company, and we were impressed with the offerings.”

The service is an extension of campus health and counseling center resources, allowing the College to deliver a hybrid model of care to students.

“This is an add-on to what our Counseling Center offers,” Lemasters said. “We love the idea that this is going to fit in really well with students’ schedules. It’s mobile-friendly and provides a really on-the-go opportunity to our students 24/7.”

That flexibility extends beyond the timing, added Jennifer Bondurant, director of the Counseling Center.

“Students are able to access the bios of available counselors to choose what might be the best fit for them, and they can also receive services in their preferred language,” she said. “This could really strengthen the therapeutic relationship. TimelyCare will also offer informational videos to provide support to students that may not need weekly counseling, but still want to improve overall wellness.”

Randolph is providing the service to students using funds from The Endeavor Foundation. The College was one of 13 to receive the funding for the first phase of Endeavor’s “Enhancing Student Learning and Experience through Campus Wellness, Student Wellbeing, and Mental Health Initiatives.”

The need for 24/7 access to high-quality care has never been more important. According to the American Council on Education, student mental health is the top concern of college and university presidents. It’s also the number one reason students leave college.

Three-quarters of students who accessed virtual mental health and well-being interventions through TimelyCare reported mental health improvements, and more than half who have sought mental health support through TimelyCare said they would have done nothing if the service were not available.

“When it comes to supporting student outcomes, the need for equitable, on-demand access to care has never been more important,” said Luke Hejl, TimelyCare CEO and co-founder. “TimelyCare enables colleges and universities to expand on-campus resources and transform the way students receive care through agency, speed, and freedom of choice that they’ve come to expect in their everyday lives. TimelyCare is proud to serve as an extension of Randolph’s resources to create a comprehensive, whole-student care solution that empowers students to seek care in a way that feels comfortable and convenient for them.”

Visit https://www.randolphcollege.edu/dos/timelycare/ for more information.