Student Counseling Services
Mental Health Emergency
FOR ALL STUDENTS: If a mental health emergency arises during business hours, please try to call our office first at 508.856.3220. In the event of an emergency at any time, call Emergency Mental Health (EMH) at 508-334-3562, your local ER or 911.
Location
SCS is located at Suite S1-160, which is accessible via two entrances, one interior and one exterior.
INTERIOR ENTRANCE: Students and visitors may enter the double doors to Suite S1-130 and follow the signage to SCS (Suite S1-160).
EXTERIOR ENTRANCE: There is an alternate entrance at the exterior of the
building located at the north-east side of the Basic Wing, accessible from the North Parking (Library) Lot.
For confidentiality reasons, the suite is kept locked. A phone is also available at the interior entrance to gain access. In order to preserve everyone's privacy, we ask that students only access SCS for clinical reasons.
Office Hours for Administrative Assistant
Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Phone: 508.856.3220
Fax: 508.856.3036
SCS@umassmed.edu
Services eligible to all
- Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences students
- Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing students
- T.H. Chan School of Medicine students
Fees/Insurance
The costs of these services are covered by the prepaid Student Health Plan fee; there is no insurance billing and no additional charge to students for using SCS. *Insurance is billed only when referred for prescriptions and labs.
Services provided
- Consultation and Evaluation
- Psychotherapy
- Medication management
- Assistance with stress management
Privacy and Confidentiality
SCS maintains strict standards of privacy and confidentiality. Records are kept separately from students’ general medical records. No information about a student's contact with the service or information obtained in counseling is released to anyone outside the counseling service staff, including school or hospital administration, faculty, family, or other students, without the knowledge and written consent of the student, unless required by law or in the rare instance of an emergency situation involving someone's safety.
Short Term/Long Term Use
Many students using the service want to learn how to cope more effectively with difficult or stressful academic situations, while others seek counseling to deal with broader life issues.
Some students come because of more serious, troublesome, and or chronic difficulties in their lives. Others are beginning to address health and wellness issues.
While short-term counseling is most common, it is possible, when time permits, for students to be seen for an extended period.
Medication is prescribed when needed.
Follow-Up Care Clinic
When in-office visits resume*, established patients will be seen by Dr. Rizzi and Dr. Raj for uncomplicated medication refills or other quick needs. Follow-Up Care Clinic is not meant to replace psychotherapy visits, nor should it supplant medication appointments when deeper discussions are needed.
*SCS is currently (and for the foreseeable future) scheduling telehealth appointments in lieu of in-office visits. Please contact SCS at 508.856.3220 or via email at SCS@umassmed.edu to schedule an appointment.