UNIVERSITY HEALTH AND COUNSELING SERVICES
University Health and Counseling Services provides a wide range of services for students who are enrolled with six or more credit hours. USM students who are not enrolled with at least six credits can pay a nominal health and counseling fee to receive these benefits. Services provided include diagnosis and treatment of routine health problems, short term treatment of mental health issues, wellness exams, community consultation and training, and emergency response. In addition, health services provides referrals to outside providers for more complicated issues, health promotion, communicable disease surveillance, sports physicals, women's exams, self help cold care and safe sex supplies. Several commonly prescribed prepackaged medications and laboratory services can be purchased at reasonable rates. Health services also provides contraception and emergency contraception, international travel information, immunizations and flu shots. Counseling services provides crisis intervention, short-term personal counseling for individuals, couples or groups for students. Consultation services and workshops are offered to students, faculty and staff. University Health and Counseling Services staff include licensed psychologists and other licensed clinicians, graduate student interns trained in counseling and psychology, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, part time physicians and administrative personnel. Concerned faculty members may make the initial referrals of students to University Health and Counseling Services. Students with emotional, physical, or behavioral problems will often come to a faculty member’s attention in the classroom. Students' emotional problems may from their efforts to meet academic demands at the same time that they are having difficulty coping with one or more aspects of their personal life. Course content or personal journal writing may trigger or precipitate a personal crisis in a student’s life (e.g., sensitive course material on issues related to childhood and family trauma, rape and other forms of sexual assault). As a result of disruptive or troubling classroom behavior, faculty members have been instrumental in identifying students who need further University assistance. If a student is experiencing stress, has a mental health or medical problem, s/he may seek care through University Health and Counseling Services. Both health and counseling staff are sensitive to students' emotional needs and our psychologists, clinicians, and nurse practitioners will work collectively with the student to give him or her the mental and physical health care that is needed. If a student tells you that s/he is experiencing emotional difficulties, substance abuse issues, medical problems or a sexual assault, s/he can be referred to professionals at University Health and Counseling Services. Once the student visits health or counseling, our licensed staff will assist him or her in making informed choices and obtaining needed care. All student health and counseling information is confidential. It cannot be discussed with or released to anyone without the student’s written permission. University Health and Counseling Services has centers on both the Portland and Gorham campuses. Students can be seen for health care needs on the Portland campus in the modular unit beside the Woodbury Campus center (780-4211), and for counseling needs at 105 Payson Smith Hall (780-4050). The Gorham Health and Counseling Services center is located on the first floor of Upton Hall (780-5411 for health care appointments and 780-4050 counseling appointments). Office hours are by appointment on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 8-4:30, and Tuesday 11-4:30. 2009-2010 USM Faculty Handbook Return to Table of Contents page |
