Student Access to Mental Health Services

Project Title: Student Access to Mental Health Services

Long Title (if desired): Increasing Student Access to Mental Health Services via use of Apple iPads

Project Lead's Name: John Ward

Project Lead's Email: wardja2@MiamiOH.edu

Project Lead's Phone: 513-529-4634

Project Lead's Division: Student Affairs

Primary Department: Student Counseling Service

List Departments Benefiting or Affected by this proposal: Student Counseling Service

Estimated Number of Under-Graduate students affected per year (should be number who will actually use solution, not just who is it available to): 2,088

Estimated Number of Graduate students affected per year (should be number who will actually use solution, not just who is it available to): 150

Describe the problem you are attempting to solve and your approach for solving that problem: The utilization of iPads in clinical sessions could facilitate the use of suicide prevention, eating disorder management, and alcohol and other drug education apps in ways previously inaccessible to students and clinicians at the Student Counseling Service (SCS). Access to web based mental health supports (e.g. mental health screeners, health promotion apps, etc.) support clinicians in delivering high quality mental health care to all Miami students. With the use of iPads in session clinicians could demonstrate mental health apps and record/capture client homework, critical functions that are currently being neglected. In addition patrons/clients of the SCS currently use paper versions of intake forms, clinical assessments, and satisfaction/utilization surveys. This current system of data entry is antiquated and often cumbersome for students. We know that Apple iPads are supported by our current data management software and are utilized with great success in this capacity at other university counseling centers. To address the known accessibility needs of some of our student patrons we will need some of the devices to be larger to accommodate differences with vision and hand/grip ability. It is important to note that a project like this cannot be phased in by the SCS, as we need to be able to provide an equal level of care and support to all students at the same time.

How would you describe the innovation and/or the significance of your project: This project is significant because it impacts a large number of undergraduate and graduate students by providing quick and efficient supplements to their mental health care.

How will you assess the success of the project: Success of the project will be measured by overall utilization rates, de-identified clinical outcomes, and satisfaction survey results indicating clients’ perception of clinical utility of the iPads.

Total Amount Requested: $17,370

Is this a multi-year request: No