Free Mental Health Care App Now Available to All Islander Students, Courtesy of A&M System

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The more than 153,000 students in Texas A&M University System schools, including those at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, now have access to TELUS Student Support, a free, confidential mental health care app. TELUS gives students 24/7 access to mental health help via telephone or chat. 

“Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is committed to supporting student mental health and understands the crucial role that student mental health plays in student success and wellness,” said Dr. Theresa Sharpe, TAMU-CC University Counseling Center Director. “We are glad to offer the TELUS app as a flexible resource that complements and supplements our current campus mental health services and resources. With this app, all current Islanders will have access to extensively trained, fully-licensed mental health clinicians at their fingertips.”

 TELUS, which is available in Android or iOS, can be installed and set up in just a few short steps and allows students to connect with a professional counselor any time they want.

“Studies show that about 75 percent of students who are struggling with depression or anxiety are reluctant to get help,” said James Hallmark, Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs for the 11 universities in the A&M System. “We hope this app makes it easier for students to take the first step.”

Through the app, mental health services are available in multiple languages including Spanish, French, Mandarin, and Cantonese. Other languages may be available by request. Students can even schedule a limited number of repeat sessions with the same counselor if needed.

Other features include an educational media library covering a variety of mental health-related topics, anonymous assessments for conditions like depression, anxiety, and drug use, and even access to guided meditations and fitness sessions.

“TELUS is an easy, private, and comfortable way for students to access mental health information and support whenever and wherever they need it, and a vital step to reducing stigma surrounding seeking mental health assistance,” Sharpe said.  “At the Island University, we strive to promote student wellbeing, and the TELUS Student Support app is an important resource for students to prioritize and invest in their mental health. We are proud to facilitate our students’ access to mental health help and awareness, which contributes to their positive academic and college experiences.”

Hallmark thanked Chancellor John Sharp and the A&M System Regents for investing in the new mental health care benefits.

“Mental health is key to student success,” Hallmark said. “College can be stressful, it’s a transformative experience, after all, but students today are more willing than ever to seek the help they need, and we are very glad to be able to be offering it to them.”

For more information on the TELUS app or services provided by the University Counseling Center, visit tamucc.edu/counseling or call 361.825.2703.