U-M Launches Free Counseling Push Amid Student Mental Health Crisis

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The University of Michigan has implemented a comprehensive mental health initiative providing free counseling and crisis intervention services to students, addressing rising concerns following the pandemic. Partnering with The Jed Foundation through the JED Campus program, U-M is in the implementation phase of a four-year plan that began with a needs assessment in 2023-24 and extends through 2026. Key enhancements include public screening tools for depression, anxiety and substance use disorders on counseling and Well-being Collective websites, plus extended clinical services via UWill outside business hours.

The program responds to alarming trends in Michigan, where youth depression and anxiety rates continue to climb. Complementing campus efforts, University of Michigan Health is opening a 7,000-square-foot Child and Adolescent Partial Hospitalization Program this summer at the Ypsilanti Health Center, funded by a $6.2 million state grant. This day-based facility features therapy rooms, group spaces and an outdoor garden, targeting teens transitioning from inpatient care or post-crisis without full hospitalization.

U-M's broader ecosystem includes 24/7 Psychiatric Emergency Services for walk-in evaluations and crisis support, accessible alongside the national 988 hotline. Recent regents' approvals pave the way for new behavioral health centers at UM Health Sparrow, enhancing access in mid-Michigan. Additional initiatives like Experience Rx social prescribing and Youth Policy Lab evaluations underscore U-M's commitment to youth mental health statewide.