- CAMHS offers short-term counseling, psychiatric consultation, medication management, groups, workshops, and referrals to community providers, with virtual care available through TimelyCare.
- The Student Health Fee gives registered students access to counseling and mental health services, at no additional cost.
- Students can begin with a supportive, 20-minute phone consultation to discuss their needs and explore care options; there is no obligation to begin counseling.
- Help is available even in difficult moments: The CAMHS Cares Line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and same-day urgent appointments are available during business hours.
A new academic year can bring a mix of anticipation and possibility—and plenty of questions. Whether you are new to Harvard or returning for another year, graduate school can be exciting, demanding, and sometimes overwhelming.
At Counseling and Mental Health Services (CAMHS), part of Harvard University Health Services (HUHS), our goal is to make it easier to find the support that is right for you. And you don’t need to know exactly what you need before reaching out.
Our hope is that every student knows they have a place to turn when they need support. Reaching out to CAMHS can be a first step toward feeling more grounded, connected, and able to navigate the challenges that come with graduate life.
—Dr. Barbara Lewis, Senior Director of Student Mental Health
What Does CAMHS Offer?
CAMHS provides short-term individual counseling, psychiatric consultation and medication management, workshops and groups, and assistance connecting with community-based providers. Students can also access virtual mental health and wellness services through TimelyCare, our telehealth partner.
Support isn’t limited to scheduled appointments. If you’re having a difficult moment and need to talk with someone, the CAMHS Cares Line at 617-495-2042 is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including evenings, weekends, and holidays. The number is on the back of your student ID card. You do not have to be in crisis to call. Same-day urgent care appointments are also available during CAMHS business hours, Monday through Friday.
The Student Health Fee
One important point students sometimes overlook: all registered students pay the Student Health Fee and have access to services at Harvard University Health Services—including counseling and mental health services—at no additional cost.
In other words, the Student Health Fee you pay as part of enrollment provides access to CAMHS. Cost does not need to be a reason to postpone that first conversation.
The Student Health Fee and health insurance serve different purposes, however. The Student Health Fee provides access to most care delivered through HUHS. The Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), for students enrolled in it, provides insurance coverage for health care beyond HUHS, including mental health care with community providers.
Together, these resources give students options. CAMHS may be the right place for your care, or we may help you connect with a provider outside Harvard whose services are covered through your health insurance.
Not Sure Where to Start? Begin With a Conversation
For most students interested in connecting with mental health services, the first step is a 20-minute initial phone consultation with a CAMHS access clinician. Often among the first CAMHS staff members students speak with, access clinicians listen, learn what you’re looking for, explain the available resources, and help you navigate your next steps.
This can be particularly helpful because mental health care is not one-size-fits-all. Some students may benefit from short-term counseling at CAMHS. Others may be looking for ongoing weekly therapy, medication management, a support group, or a clinician in the community. Still others may simply want to talk through a concern and learn what resources are available.
Think of this conversation as a starting point rather than an intake into therapy. You will have an opportunity to talk about what prompted you to reach out, what you would like help with, and any preferences you may have. Your access clinician can then help you sort through the options and determine what might best fit your goals and needs.
Those options might include pursuing individual counseling or psychiatric care at CAMHS, through TimelyCare for telehealth, or with an off-campus provider; joining a group or workshop; or connecting with other Harvard resources. If you aren’t sure whether you want counseling at all, that’s okay too. There is no requirement to begin services after the consultation.
You can schedule an initial consultation directly through the HUHS Patient Portal or by calling the CAMHS front desk at 617-495-2042, option 1.
The initial consultation is designed to be a supportive, interactive conversation. In about 20 minutes, we can learn what brought a student to us, facilitate a brief assessment, provide an overview of the resources, and collaborate with the student to determine what’s next. Sometimes that’s care at CAMHS, and sometimes it’s another resource at Harvard or in the community.
—Kim Herrmann, CAMHS Access Clinician Team Leader
At the end of the call, you’ll have a plan for next steps. Your access clinician will also send a secure message through the HUHS Patient Portal summarizing the plan, and you can reply if you have questions or want additional help.
You Don’t Have to Figure It Out Alone
Graduate school asks you to navigate a lot—new relationships, academic expectations, research and career decisions, financial pressures, family responsibilities, and questions about what comes next. You don’t need to wait until something becomes a crisis to seek support. Sometimes the first step really is just a 20-minute conversation.
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