Article By: Clark Leonard
As University of North Georgia (UNG) students prepare for their midterm exams this week, Dr. Simon Cordery, director of Student Counseling, hopes they remember the wide array of mental health support available to them, should they feel overwhelmed.
This semester, UNG launched Nigel Cares, a mental health support hub, to complement the work of UNG's Student Counseling services.
"We are trying to reach students in new ways," Cordery said. "Students can access these services outside normal business hours."
As part of the effort, all UNG students have access to the following:
Cordery said the Nigel Cares website features reliable information on body, food, mind, academics, self-help, relationships, money and sexual culture.
Nigel Cares is part of the larger University System of Georgia Mental Health Initiative backed by $11.5 million in Governor's Emergency Education Relief funding for the system's 26 institutions.
The support comes at a crucial time as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause stress for students. Cordery is eager to see students take advantage of these resources.
"It's much easier to get ahead of a problem if you seek help early," Cordery said. "Being proactive will produce a better outcome both emotionally and academically."
The access to telephone or video-based psychiatric care is a major benefit to students.
These services are in addition to those already offered by Student Counseling, which include individual and group therapy and counseling, suicide prevention and education, problem solving, and time management skills building.