ORANGEBURG, S.C. — South Carolina State University is one of three colleges in the state offering a new virtual mental health services app called Timely-Care.
This app is for students and aims to make mental health resources available at all hours of the day.
Christian Jackson, the Counseling and Self-Development Center director at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, said the app opens services to more people.
"What this does for people that are not really as apt to come in for in-person therapy or therapy in the first place, it kind of gives you the option," said Jackson.
Jackson said it allows students control over what kinds of help they may receive.
"It empowers a student to be able to make their choice," said Jackson. "It makes sure that you have access to people that you can actually kind of vet on your own and the amenity piece is really huge."
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The app connects students to a virtual professional and offers self-care content, providing step-by-step directions for students to take care of themselves.
Xavier Mitchell-Brown, a South Carolina State University sophomore, said the app helps students during stressful times such as midterm exams.
"Midterms are this week, and oftentimes during midterm week, people deal with depression," said Mitchell-Brown. "They deal with anxiety; they deal with so much that they can't deal with themselves. So this app will allow you to reach out to somebody, reach out to help. And it will get you the help you need."
Students can attend nine free sessions an academic year through Timely-Care. If they run out of free sessions, they can attend sessions at the Brooks Health Center Counseling and Self Development Center.