Telemental Health in Support of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Blurred people walking across Michigan Tech's campus in summer.

Beginning in the fall 2021 semester, the Center for Student Mental Health and Well-being (CSMHW) will begin offering telemental health services through Morneau Shepell, a well-respected leader among providers of mental health services to college students. Morneau Shepell’s MySSP (Student Support Program) will help Michigan Tech meet the needs of all students and address significant issues that have prevented students from obtaining these services in the past.

The need for additional options for mental health services has long been documented at Michigan Tech, both anecdotally and through instruments such as the 2017-18 Climate Survey. In reporting the climate survey results, the Diversity Council recognized the importance of providing accommodations and services to students. The climate survey reports—and anecdotal evidence supports—that our underrepresented minority students lack a sense of belonging and are frustrated with the lack of diversity at Michigan Tech.

Despite our best efforts, this lack of diversity also appears among clinical staff in the Center for Student Mental Health and Well-being. According to Morneau Shepell, research reported by the World Health Organization and in the Journal of American College Health shows that race, gender, orientation, and lack of diversity among clinicians are all barriers to seeking mental health support. Meeting with a therapist who shares their identity will help students break through these barriers.

Morneau Shepell’s MySSP works to pair students with clinicians who have self-identified as having experiences or specializations associated with gender, religion, ethnicity, geography, age, and more. MySSP also offers services in many languages—students have access to English, Spanish, French, Mandarin, and Cantonese, and can schedule appointments in 150 other languages. In addition, the MySSP Care Access Center offers accessible services for students with hearing impairments.

MySSP works to pair students with clinicians who have self-identified as having experiences or specializations associated with gender, religion, ethnicity, geography, age, and more.

Finally, one of the greatest benefits of MySSP: Students have uninterrupted access to crisis assistance and can schedule appointments at any time—day or night. Students can choose phone, video, or in-person services to meet their time demands, regardless of their physical location. Co-op? Study abroad? No problem. Where on-campus appointments might be limited on a given day, MySSP appointments are always available to Michigan Tech students. This is an excellent complement to our existing services and an important resource for students.

Students have uninterrupted access to crisis assistance and can schedule appointments at any time—day or night.

Morneau Shepell’s MySSP will help Michigan Tech meet the needs of all Huskies and help them feel a greater sense of belonging.