Mount Saint Mary College's Student Health and Wellness Center under the direction of the Executive Director of Health and Wellness, in the Division of Student Affairs, provides a holistic approach to promoting the health and wellbeing of all students. The Student Health and Wellness Center encompasses the offices of Health Services and Counseling Services. These offices work collaboratively on wellness services that enrich the personal and academic growth of MSMC students. The Student Health and Wellness Center provides students with medical, counseling, and health education services that enrich their personal and academic growth. The Student Health and Wellness Center emphasizes a holistic, patient-focused approach to healthcare and wellness — often including mental, emotional, functional, spiritual, social, and community aspects — and treating the whole person. These services are complemented by a strong training and consultative role that promotes overall health, wellness and safety on our campus. Some of the collaborative services include, but are not limited to, substance and alcohol education, screening and preventative services, support for student housing and food insecurities, crisis services for medical and mental health issues, violence prevention services, and offers the PACT support program for students with anxiety and related diagnoses. The Student Health and Wellness Center is located in Guzman Hall contact (845) 569-3152 for more information.
Health Services
Mount Saint Mary College Health Services is located within the Student Health and Wellness Center in Guzman Hall and is open weekdays. Appointments for care are encouraged but walk-ins are welcome. Under the direction of the Executive Director for Student Health and Wellness, staffing includes Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, and an on-call consulting Physician. Health Services is designed to manage chronic illnesses, provide treatment for acute illness or injury, and can work in conjunction with a student’s personal healthcare provider as needed to treat illness or injury of a serious or lasting nature.
Health Services maintains electronic health records for all students. MSMC Health Forms can be found, completed and submitted on the student health portal msmary.studenthealthportal.com New York State Public Health laws require that all students born on or after January 1, 1957 who wish to enroll in six or more credits in any one semester provide proof of immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR). Students must upload an official immunization record from their health care provider to the student portal. The immunization record must be signed and stamped by the student’s health care provider. In addition, all students, regardless of age, must complete the meningitis form on the portal reflecting whether a student has had or wishes to waive the Meningococcal vaccine. The college also requires all new full-time students to submit documentation of a current physical performed within the past year, and complete a Tuberculosis Screening form completed within the last year found on the student health portal. Students who do not comply with these requirements may be subject to withdrawal from the college.
Generally, office visit fees are covered by tuition and do not require a payment. Laboratory tests (strep test, mono test, PPD, urinalysis) and many prescription medications are available, and have a minimal co-pay which is billed to the student’s account. In some circumstances, a referral will need to be made to an appropriate off-campus medical facility. In this case, costs are the responsibility of the student or guardian. Students are encouraged to have medical insurance coverage, to carry a copy of their insurance card, and to know how to access care if needed. The college is located within four blocks of St. Luke’s Montefiore Cornwall Hospital and several Urgent Care facilities are located within close proximity to our college campus for after-hour care. Transportation for such care can be provided by MSMC Security.
When the College suspects a student to have a serious or contagious health problem, it reserves the right to require a medical examination of the student. The College also reserves the right to require a student to return home in order to ensure that appropriate physical and mental health care is received and to protect the safety of the members of the College community.
Students absent from the college for a serious illness/injury or for a period of time beyond 3 days should contact Health Services. Students seeking specialized medical arrangements must submit a current written report from their health care provider outlining prescribed medications, diet, activity limitations, and any other necessary accommodations. Though the Student Health and Wellness Center staff will advocate for the student who has provided this documentation and will assist in the process of getting the appropriate accommodations in place, Health Services staff is not authorized to excuse students from classes. In the event that a student is unable to attend class due to a medical reason, even if they have a note from a medical provider, it is the student’s responsibility to notify their instructors according to the class policy/syllabus.
Health Services also offers Wellness Programs throughout the year and encourages students to learn about and participate in healthy lifestyles. Topics include stress management, smoking cessation, healthy eating, and exercise, among others. This information is provided through individual student visits, collaborative presentations with Resident Assistants in the residence halls, monthly wellness tables, and other various events.
The Student Health and Wellness Center is home to the Stress-Less Room, a quiet room with a massage chair, ambient lighting, and relaxing music for relaxation/meditation tracks. Students are encouraged to visit the center to use this room to help them to relax and to promote mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health, and thereby potentiating academic success.
For further information about Health Services, to arrange for a health services presentation, call 845-569-3152 or email healthservices@msmc.edu
Counseling Services
Mount Saint Mary College Counseling Services is located within the Student Health and Wellness Center in Guzman Hall and is open weekdays. Appointments are encouraged but walk-ins are welcome. Under the direction of the Executive Director for Student Health and Wellness, Counseling is staffed by a Clinical Social Worker.
Counseling Services seeks to promote the mental health and wellbeing of Mount Saint Mary College students by providing a welcoming, nonjudgmental, and safe environment that values and respects diversity and inclusivity.
WHAT WE OFFER
The Student Health and Wellness Center offers free, confidential, short-term Counseling services for current, matriculated students seeking mental health treatment. Our professional counselors and clinical graduate interns help students work through a variety of mental health challenges that can arise during college through various services such as individual counseling, groups, psychoeducation, referral and resource assistance, and wellness-related campus events. All services are able to be accessed in person or virtually, regardless of whether a student commutes or lives on campus. Many students find it helpful to have a safe place to speak freely about their thoughts and feelings, and common reasons students seek out Counseling Services include: anxiety, depression, stress, and issues related to relationships, family, academics, and more. Counseling Services staff can also provide consultations to MSMC staff and faculty related to general student concerns and psychoeducational content, as well as classroom presentations and collaborations with other departments for campus events.
SCOPE OF CARE & REFERRAL SERVICES
There’s no shame in asking for help, and no reason is too small to come in to our office. However, there may be a time when a student requires more than what college counseling can offer, and in those cases our counselors will assist students in finding resources for receiving treatment off-campus. For example, students with a recent history of multiple psychiatric hospitalizations, severe and active eating disorders, active psychoses, or who are experiencing serious and imminent risk of harm to self or others will likely be referred to community providers, given the need for ongoing treatment and resources that are not available through Counseling Services.
SCHEDULING AN APPOINTMENT
All appointments are free and confidential, with no insurance needed. Appointments can be in-person or virtual using the Zoom platform. Students must schedule their own appointments – third parties are not allowed to schedule for someone else. Appointments can be scheduled between the hours of 9am and 5pm Monday through Friday by calling the office at (845) 569-3152, emailing counseling@msmc.edu, or walking in to our office located within the Student Health and Wellness Center in Guzman Hall and speaking with the administrative assistant or any other staff member. If you schedule a virtual Zoom appointment, please find a private location so you will not be disturbed and can ensure your session is kept private. Zoom appointments are offered to both commuter and resident students.
CONFIDENTIALITY
The information shared with your counselor in Counseling Services is kept confidential in accordance with professional, ethical, and legal guidelines. Treatment records are kept separate from education records and are not released without your written consent. Only in situations where safety is a concern and there is imminent risk of harm can information be shared, and in these situations only for the purpose of ensuring safety. All of our counselors will discuss confidentiality with you upon your initial visit and on an ongoing basis, and can assist with any questions you may have.
EMERGENCY & CRISIS SUPPORT
If you are experiencing a life-threatening Mental Health emergency, or have serious reason to believe that someone you know is a danger to themselves or others, please call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Room. Students needing support for a non-life-threatening mental health crisis during normal office hours are encouraged to call or walk in to the office. Should a non-life-threatening crisis occur after normal office hours, resident students are encouraged to contact their RA, RD, or MSMC Campus Safety & Security (845-569-3200) to access support from campus staff and to request phone contact with an on-call counselor who can assess your situation and offer assistance. For after-hours emergencies, commuter students are encouraged to contact the following off-campus crisis helpline resources (based on MSMC commuter county information as of June 2023):
● Orange County, NY:
Orange County Crisis Call Center: 1-800-832-1200
● Ulster County, NY
Ulster County Mobile Mental Health: (844) 277-4820
● Sullivan County, NY
Sullivan County Mobile Mental Health (18+): 800-710-7082 or 845-791-7123 o
SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) Helpline: 1-800-662-4357
● Rockland County, NY
Rockland County Behavioral Health Response Team: (845) 517-0400
● Dutchess County, NY
Dutchess County Helpline: (845) 485-9700
● Putnam County, NY
NAMI Putnam County Crisis Hotline: (845) 225-1222
● Westchester County, NY
Crisis Prevention and Response Team through St. Vincent’s Hospital: (914) 925-5959
● Bergen County, NJ
Bergen County Crisis Hotline: (201) 262-HELP (4357)
● Fairfield County, CT
The Connecticut Mental Health Center Mobile Crisis Intervention and Evaluation Unit: (203) 974-7300
● National Crisis Helplines:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988
Crisis Text line: 741741
The Trevor Project Lifeline (LGBTQIA+ specific support): 1-866-488-7386 or text “Start” to 678-678
LGBT National Hotline: 1-888-843-4564
National Sexual Assault Hotline: (800) 656-4673
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE
National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) helpline: 1-800-931-2237
SERVICES NOT PROVIDED
Due to the nature of college counseling, our office is not able to provide certain specialized services. We can refer students to community providers, if requested. This list is not exhaustive: if you have any questions, please reach out to the Counseling office. Services not offered include:
- ADHD evaluations
- Autism Spectrum evaluations
- Psychiatric services
- Medication management
- Learning Disability assessments
- Emotional Support Animal letters
- Disability paperwork
CONTACT INFORMATION
Location: Guzman Hall
Main Office phone number: (845) 569-3152
Fax: (845) 569-3514
Main Office email: counseling@msmc.edu
Hours: Monday through Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm (hours may adjust throughout the year as needed; always refer to the MSMC website for updates or speak with a staff member)