Both Dr. Chen and Dr. Benton recommend seeking help online if students are feeling overwhelmed. Traditionally, students would be able to access a college counseling centre, so they should see if their schools are offering virtual services during this time. If not, there are plenty of online resources to check out. We've rounded up free mental health services offered amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Not all of them are considered therapy, but you can also check out how to sign up for teletherapy with a licenced professional here.
Dr. Benton said that she's already seen an increase in teletherapy being offered by her company's platform. "My company provides video conferencing and mental health tools to 180 schools. And we've gone from about 60,000 minutes of online therapy a month to 3 million minutes of online therapy a month," she said. Online therapy increases access, and that's especially the case during this time, so both experts agreed that getting the guidance you need is both accessible and important right now.