Valeria Tokun Haga/THE RIDER
One UTRGV student says National Suicide Prevention Month means awareness, taking action, looking after friends who are struggling and taking care of oneself more than ever during September.
The Counseling Center offers group counseling, couples counseling and Brief Supportive Counseling to students on both campuses, with counselors who can provide services in Spanish.
The Counseling Center is open to all students and aims to address their mental health and promote personal growth, according to its website.
The center has locations at the Student Health Center (Building 19) on the Brownsville campus and University Center 109 on the Edinburg campus.
Richard Clayton, a clinical therapist for the Brownsville campus, said students are welcome and what they discuss with counselors is confidential, subject to applicable exceptions.
“One of the things they’re always worried about is, ‘Is this going to go in my transcript? Is this going to follow me? Are my parents going to find out?’ And the answer is no,” Clayton said. “If you’re 18 or older, no. Your parents, nobody finds out. This doesn’t go in your transcript.”
He added the center provides a space where students feel free to speak about what is going on.
“All our records that we keep are encrypted and secure, just like if you went to your medical doctor or an outside mental health provider,” Clayton said. “All of our counselors are state-certified, board-certified.”
Clayton said students can call the Vaquero Crisis Line or use the TimelyCare app.
“The Vaquero Crisis Line is just, is kind of what it says, it’s for a crisis,” he said. “They can call in and talk to a licensed clinician, just like us, and get through that next level and then hook us up the next day.”
According to Clayton, TimelyCare is an online service with clinicians and costs are covered by the department.
“Let’s say you have students and the scheduling doesn’t work out for us. Maybe they’re non-traditional students where they’re working all day and then go to school at night and all that,” he said. “ … They can enroll in TimelyCare, and again, it would be just the same as seeing [a licensed clinician,] except it’s online.”
Kylie Torres, a biology senior who has used the Counseling Center at UTRGV, said she struggled with mental health throughout her journey at UTRGV.
“I didn’t realize it was so bad until, you know, I had to drop a class because it was so hard to even get into the bath, to wash myself, to brush my teeth, and so, I had reached out for help at the Counseling Center,” Torres said.
She said the UTRGV Counseling Center was welcoming. Torres added the confidentiality of the center reassured her.
“They have to abide by [the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act], confidentiality agreement” she said. “And I have very good confidence in that, seeing as I’ve been to other counselors, and my parents have never found out certain things.”
Torres said she has used the TimelyCare app before.
“[It] gives you 20-minute sessions that are free, and then if you have appointments, then that takes from your nine vouchers that UTRGV does give you,” she said.
Clayton said he also recommends people use the suicide and crisis lifeline. The lifeline is a national line anyone can call for help with their own or someone else’s mental health concerns.
“You don’t have to be the person in crisis thinking about suicide to call 988,” he said. “People don’t realize, ‘Oh really, I can call 988? I’m not in crisis, but my friend is?’ Yes, you can.”
Clayton also said someone can check on others by simply reaching out and asking.
“You don’t want to have to say, ‘Hey, are you having any mental issues?’ Just say, ‘Hey, I haven’t seen you in a while … That’s all the time, every once in a while. That’s all we need. Just do a buddy check with a friend. Do a friend check. That’s that. It’s that simple.”
“UTRGV really cares about our students’ mental health, and that’s why we have services on both campuses,” Clayton said. “There’s always help somewhere. You’re not alone.”
For more information, visit the Counseling Center website or its Instagram page @utrgvcounselingcenter.
The Vaquero Crisis Line is 956-665-5555.
