Telehealth Continues in Wisconsin Universities

The Board of Regents had a meeting on Aug. 5 to extend funding for Telehealth services at all UW schools except for UW-Madison, which has supplemental Telehealth services. The request is a four-year contract that would anticipate funding of $6.1 million in the first two years and $6.7 million in the last two years. 

Lua Pederson is a super senior graphic design major at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He has used Telehealth in the past and says the app does have its benefits for different people. 

“There’s a lot of things that are going to help very specific people that might have a very niche audience or a very niche use,” Pederson said. “That doesn’t mean it’s not important.”

Mantra Health is the provider of Telehealth, and they are partnering with universities to find wellness solutions and help with mental health. 

The purpose of the meeting was to continue to get funding from Mantra Health to help college students. There are many pros and cons to this online therapy, such as not having transportation, but dealing with Wi-Fi that might cut out.

Mental health is common in most college students, whether it is from moving to a new state, not having friends, or just being overwhelmed, according to Pederson.

“There’s a lot of families where you can’t really show your emotions or who you actually are,” Pederson said. “If you show any mental illness symptoms, they might judge you for it or punish you for it, and you might not feel safe enough to show that vulnerability.” 

Having somewhere for student to talk out their problems in a safe environment where they won’t be judged is important. The Telehealth app can be reliable, and there are professional therapists from different countries. 

Karen Walsh is a part of the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, and she asked the Senior Director of Student Success and Well Being, John Achter, how this would benefit students. 

These services are useful for students who might not have access to the services they have on campus, and there are after-hours services as well. Achter mentioned that the diversity of providers has increased as well. 

“We asked when we were exploring what to do going forward, and asking for money in the budget, if folks would want to continue these services, and all campuses said yes,” Achter said. 

In 2023, the expansion of Telehealth options was introduced, according to the University of Wisconsin news. This would include 24/7 support, an online wellness portal, and telecounseling and telepsychiatry services. 

The National Library of Medicine said COVID-19 caused a disruption in higher education worldwide, affecting the mental health of college students. Depression and anxiety were the two major effects that came from the shutdown. 

“In addition to anxiety and depression, there was a notable rise in insomnia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and suicidal ideation,” according to the National Library of Medicine. “Although male students generally exhibited better stress management, they appeared to face a higher mortality risk associated with suicidal ideation.” 

Telehealth is a way for students to have access to speak to someone at all times of the day, making it easier for students to clear their minds and have someone to talk to. 

“I feel this really got wheels under it during the pandemic, but it’s far outdistanced the pandemic,” Welsh said. “It feels like this is going to be an ongoing necessary supplement to campus services.”

Telehealth is offered to students through their schools as an option if needed, which is starting to be a regular service to students. One thing students must remember about any counselling or therapy is that it does not come easy. 

Giving the students the option to create an appointment online or in person gives them the chance to see which works best for them.

This service is meant to help students when they feel most comfortable or feel like it is the right time to talk. It is not something that is forced on them to do, but it is encouraged.

Schools want to make sure their students are both heard and seen, and mental health plays a huge role in how students react and respond to life.

“You have to want someone to help you,” Pederson said. “You have to want to get better, and no amount of therapy is going to work if you’re not cooperating with that.”

The approval of the request gives students a chance to speak their mind in a safe environment without being judged.