November 20, 2019

Balancing an active lifestyle with academic, professional, personal, and social stresses and demands can be challenging. Wayne State University provides a variety of free, convenient resources — including confidential counseling, coaching, consultation and referral services — to help support the health and well-being of the campus community.

Services for students

All currently registered students can access resources through Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), Wayne State’s fully accredited network of diverse and welcoming licensed professional counselors, psychologists and social workers.

CAPS offers free and confidential counseling services, crisis intervention, workshops and trainings, and outreach services and events. CAPS is prepared to help address a range of concerns, including but not limited to depression, anxiety, time management, self-care, suicide prevention, grief and loss, life changes, relationship concerns, test anxiety and academic stress, self-esteem, and body image issues.

"We want students to feel empowered and accepted when they come to CAPS," said Jeff Kuentzel, CAPS director, "The staff here care deeply about every client, and it shows. Students rate their satisfaction with our services very highly."

“Let’s Talk” Drop-In Counseling Sessions

Students can access services through CAPS’ “Let’s Talk” program, which offers confidential, informal drop-in consultations with a professional counselor at locations across campus. Most drop-in sessions last 15-20 minutes, and no appointments are necessary. Common discussion topics for “Let’s Talk” sessions include stress, academic concerns, career questions, peer pressure, relational concerns and anxiety.

For a complete schedule of Let’s Talk sessions, as well as FAQ, visit caps.wayne.edu/outreach/lets-talk.

Traditional Counseling

CAPS also offers individual, couples and group counseling at its Student Center Building location and at the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. CAPS uses a short-term counseling model, so most clients will be seen for 12 or fewer sessions. For students who need longer or specialized treatment, CAPS provides tailored referrals, linking students to counseling services at the College of Education’s Counseling and Testing Center and the WSU Psychology Clinic, or a variety of outside resources. Assistance with using health insurance and finding a community provider is also offered.

While there is sometimes a wait for traditional counseling, students are still encouraged to reach out and begin the initial consultation process so CAPS can help determine how to best respond to their needs. Students experiencing crises will be assisted immediately, and after hours, students can speak with a counselor by calling 313-577-9982.

To receive an initial consultation, please stop by the CAPS office in the Student Center, Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., or call 313-577-3398. Initial consultations may take 60-90 minutes.

Services for faculty and staff

Ulliance Employee Assistance Program

Benefits-eligible employees have free, confidential access to Ulliance’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP), 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, by simply calling 1-800-448-8326. To access the EAP online, go to lifeadvisoreap.com/memberlogin.aspx.

The EAP is confidential, and services are available to employees, their spouses or live-in partners, and any dependent children under the age of 26. Services include counseling, coaching, crisis intervention and community resource referrals. The Ulliance Life Advisor EAP can help with a variety of topics, including stress, depression and anxiety, grief and loss, alcohol and/or drug abuse, child or adult care issues, relationship and family concerns, balancing family and work resources, and financial or legal issues.

In addition to counseling services, the EAP offers coaching — generally through scheduled 30-minute phone conversations — to help reach a goal or develop a plan of action.

Consultation, training and outreach for the campus community

In addition to the above services, there are a variety of training and outreach options for the campus community.

Suicide Prevention Initiative

WSU is the recipient of a three-year Garrett Lee Smith Campus Suicide Prevention grant, which has allowed for the development of additional education, training, and mental health and suicide prevention awareness for faculty, staff, students and the community. Through this grant, the Suicide Prevention Initiative is able to offer:

Mental Health First Aid Training , which is an 8-hour, in-person training session that teaches participants how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. The training teaches the skills needed to reach out and provide initial support to someone in need. Participants earn a three-year certification. RSVP for the student session (Dec. 6) RSVP for the faculty/staff session (Dec. 13)

, which is an 8-hour, in-person training session that teaches participants how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. The training teaches the skills needed to reach out and provide initial support to someone in need. Participants earn a three-year certification.

Kognito online training modules offer interactive, role-play simulation to build awareness, knowledge and skills related to mental health and suicide prevention, allowing participants to feel more confident in their real-life conversations with others in distress.

"We want students to know about the mental health services available on campus and in the community," said Stef Kastely, suicide prevention coordinator, "We also want the Wayne State community to feel a little more comfortable talking about mental health with each other.

Ulliance Life Advisor Workshops

Faculty and staff are encouraged to take advantage of training, seminars and workshops offered through Ulliance. Sessions can be found in Academica, and topics include conflict management, holiday stress management, emotional wellness, readiness to change, assertiveness and more.

CAPS Consultation and Outreach Services

Additionally, CAPS provides consultations to faculty and staff, as well as parents, on how to respond to students’ needs. CAPS is available to the entire campus community for consultation and educational activities related to student concerns and wellness. Counselors can visit departments or groups on campus to present on various topics, and CAPS also sponsors mental health screenings and participates in orientation activities and resident advisor training.

Those who are concerned about the well-being of a student can submit a CARE Report through the Dean of Students Office, which will help connect them with support and resources.