MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Morehead State University has partnered with
TimelyMD, the premier provider of virtual health and well-being resources in higher education, to offer MSU student-athletes free and equitable access to expanded mental health and basic needs support through the TimelyCare platform.
TimelyCare serves as a 24/7 virtual extension of campus counseling center resources, with a goal of improving student well-being, engagement, and retention. MSU is the first university in Kentucky to offer TimelyCare's comprehensive mental health support to its students.
In a 2022
nationwide survey of more than 1,200 students, 70% of student-athletes reported experiencing mental health issues, and they were more likely to seek emotional support (78%) than other students (71%). A
recent NCAA-led survey found more than 80% of head, assistant and associate coaches across all three divisions are spending more time discussing mental health with student-athletes than they did before the pandemic.
"There is no greater priority than the health and safety of our students and we recognize the additional pressures our student-athletes face in addition to their academic workloads," said Director of Athletics Dr. Jaime Gordon. "The time to step up and support our student-athletes with TimelyCare is now, and we are proud to lead the charge in the Commonwealth of Kentucky."
Through TimelyCare on their phone or other device, MSU student-athletes – whether on campus, online or traveling – can now select from a wide-ranging menu of virtual care options from licensed providers and counselors in all 50 states. Students do not need to pay anything or have insurance to access the following services:
- On-demand mental health and emotional support (TalkNow)
- Appointment-based mental health counseling
- Health coaching
- Basic Needs assistance
- Peer support community
- Digital self-care content
Additionally, faculty and staff have access to support that empowers them to guide students to TimelyCare resources to help students achieve a sense of well-being, live healthier lifestyles and improve their mental health.Â
The partnership with TimelyMD allows MSU to deliver a hybrid model of care in collaboration with on-campus resources. Benefits to students include:
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- Convenient 24/7 care – Physical and mental health issues often present themselves outside regular business hours, and TimelyCare makes seeking support or treatment as easy and convenient as making a video or phone call. Nationally, about 40% of mental health care visits through TimelyCare occur after regular business hours or on weekends.
- Reduced wait times – Many campus counseling centers often have a 2-3 week wait time for appointments, whereas students can typically connect with a TimelyCare provider in less than 5 minutes.
- Diverse provider network – In addition to being from diverse backgrounds, TimelyCare providers are trained to be culturally competent. For example, more than 50% of mental health providers identify as BIPOC. The platform also offers professionals who identify as LGBTQIA+, speak multiple languages and/or have various religious and spiritual beliefs. Students can choose to meet with a specific provider or select the first available.
- Peace of mind – TimelyCare is a safe, secure, URAC-accredited and HIPAA-compliant platform that follows campus-specific protocols to facilitate care coordination and follow-up to ensure continuity of care. Integrations with leading learning management systems ensure students have even more on-ramps to in-the-moment support whenever they need it.
The need for 24/7 access to high-quality care has never been more important. According to the American Council on Education, student mental health is the
top concern of college and university presidents. It's also the number one reason students leave college. A recent report by
Gallup and the Lumina Foundation found that three out of four students in bachelor's degrees programs who considered stopping out cited emotional stress as their reason.
"TimelyCare's ease of use, convenience and immediacy make it easier than ever for our students to get on-demand support," said Director of Athletics Dr. Jaime Gordon. "TimelyCare enhances campus resources by making care more readily available to students when they need it, limiting the spread of illness, reducing the stigma of mental health issues, and granting peace of mind to students and their families."
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Three-quarters (75%) of college students who accessed virtual mental health and well-being interventions through TimelyCare reported mental health improvement – including 100% of students who presented as a potential suicide risk. Sixty percent of all students who have sought mental health support through TimelyCare said they would have done nothing if the service were not available. Founded in 2017, TimelyMD is
trusted to serve more than 1.5 million students at nearly 250 campuses nationwide.
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"Meeting the need for equitable, on-demand access to care is a critical challenge that extends beyond campus boundaries. TimelyCare allows colleges and universities like Morehead State University to solve problems rather than just treat symptoms," said Luke Hejl, TimelyMD CEO and co-founder. "Our mission at TimelyMD is to improve the health and well-being of college students by making virtual care accessible anytime, anywhere. Through TimelyCare, we are proud to deliver best-in-class health and well-being solutions to help students thrive."
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