Albany State University Partners with META for Online Mental Health Counseling Services

META, the nation’s leading digital mental health platform for schools, has partnered with Albany State University (ASU) to expand online counseling services for their students.

ASU’s counseling staff will leverage META’s platform to treat students’ emotional needs and assist with their personal, academic, and career goals. The partnership with META was made possible through a grant managed by the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. Albany State students have the option to receive teletherapy from ASU counselors or META’s network of providers. Sessions with ASU counselors are no cost to students and a limited number of free sessions are available with META’s national network of providers.

 “We want to make sure any student who seeks counseling can swiftly and safely connect with a counselor,” said Dr. Terry Lindsay, Vice President of Student Affairs at ASU. “By partnering with META, we instantly expand student access to counselors, lower their wait times, and comply with social distancing recommendations.”

Students download the META app, choose a counselor, and receive chat, video, or voice counseling through the privacy and convenience of their smartphones. Students see on the app if counselors are available online for immediate connection, or students can leave a chat message to schedule a future session.

Mental health issues among college populations are a growing concern, especially since the coronavirus pandemic. A recent survey conducted by META found that 84 percent of college students are struggling with stress and anxiety caused by COVID-19. Social distancing requirements have made teletherapy a necessity for staff and students to protect themselves.

By partnering with META, ASU receives a robust mental health program, complete with self-service content directed at students and an ongoing awareness campaign promoting students to take care of their emotional and mental well-being.