Student Health provides counseling and psychiatric care for our students and postdoctoral scholars in a comfortable and confidential setting. Our providers are dedicated to supporting students and postdoctoral scholars' health and well-being.

Appointments are available virtually or in person. Please call 503-494-8665 to schedule.

SHW Behavioral Health Intake paperwork

Counseling and psychiatric services

Behavioral health services at Student Health include, but are not limited to:

• Short-term counseling for individuals and couples
• Therapy and support groups (we recently offered two skills-based groups on anxiety management and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for insomnia.  Please email shw@ohsu.edu if you are interested in another group being offered again)
• Therapy referrals to providers in the community
• Psychiatric evaluation and/or referral, and medication management
• Crisis support
• Consultation
• Assessment, treatment, and referral as appropriate for specialty care, and alcohol and other substance abuse problems
• Suicide Prevention training and other initiatives

Our services are provided by psychologists, psychiatrists, and other therapists who together offer diagnosis, medication management, and counseling for a wide range of conditions. We can also help with providing referrals for insurance-based care.

Making an appointment

Please call SHW at 503-494-8665, Option 1 to schedule an appointment or for urgent crisis care. 

Hours

• Mon.: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• Tues.: 10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
• Weds.: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• Thurs.: 10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
• Fri.: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Behavioral Health, Primary Care, and Wellness programs have additional virtual hours.

Typically, when you call to make an initial appointment, you will be scheduled for a 20-30 minute phone consultation with a behavioral health provider.  During this consultation, you and the provider can collaboratively determine a plan for your care.  This care may include individual, couples, or group counseling at Student Health; other Student Health services such as primary care or mindfulness sessions; and/or referrals to a provider or specialist in the community.

Costs of care

All behavioral health appointments are free for OHSU students and postdoctoral scholars.  We do not bill insurance.  Couples counseling is free, though we will need to verify that your partner carries major medical insurance in case a referral is necessary.

New drop-in support at Student Health - "Let's Talk"

Starting Nov. 15, 2023, SHW will offer virtual drop-in consultations with an OHSU Student Health and Wellness Counselor every Wednesday from 12-1 p.m. 

Let's Talk is:

• First-come, first-served - no appointment necessary. 
• Informal (not a substitute for counseling) and private.
• Free for OHSU students and postdoctoral scholars.

Other important information about Let's Talk:

• Currently held on Wednesdays from 12-1pm via Zoom. Click to access Zoom meeting.
• There may be a wait in the virtual waiting room if the counselor is seeing another student. The provider will be with you as soon as they can. (You will not be seen by others in the waiting room, nor will you see others waiting as well). 
• To learn more Let's Talk (or to read while you're waiting for the provider) please review our Let's Talk FAQ. 
• Let's Talk will not be held during university holidays and December break.
• Let's Talk is not appropriate for urgent concerns or mental health emergencies.

Mental health crisis support

If you are having an acute mental health crisis during Student Health's business hours, you can call us at 503-494-8665, Option 1 for crisis care. If you are concerned about a student, you can also call us for consultation on how to best support the student. At a crisis-related appointment, a Student Health provider will assess for safety, determine a plan for safety, plan for treatment including assessing the appropriate level of care and facilitating referrals if needed, and provide general counseling, tools, and support.

For after-hours crisis support, Student Health has partnered with ProtoCall Services to offer confidential mental health services on nights, weekends, and holidays. Students and postdocs can receive brief counseling interventions and crisis care after-hours, and anyone can call to consult about how to care for an OHSU student or postdoc in crisis. Call Student Health at 503-494-8665 and follow the prompts to get connected. See this OHSU Now post for more information.

If you are an OHSU student or postdoc, we invite you to take our free, anonymous stress and depression questionnaire as part of OHSU's Interactive Screening Program.  After you complete the questionnaire, a counselor will respond to you to discuss how you are doing, available resources and options for support. The counselor will not know your identity. You can choose to dialogue anonymously online, or to schedule a confidential virtual visit with one of our experienced providers to learn more about resources and options for support.

Other after-hours crisis resources

• Multnomah County Mental Health Crisis Intervention: 503-988-4888
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which will connect you to your local crisis line: 988
• Crisis Text Line: Text “HOME” to 741741
• 24/7 Project Respond: 503-988-4888
• Cascadia Urgent Walk-In Clinic: 503-239-7166, 4212 SE Division, Suite 100, Portland, OR 97209
• BIPOC support line: 503-575-3764
• Physician Support Line (includes medical students): 888-409-0141
• Emergency Department or 911
• Mental Health and Community Resource list

Wellness and support services

In addition to clinical services, Student Health and Wellness offers a variety of wellness events, resources and tools to support mental, emotional, social, and physical well-being. Learn more about wellness offerings.

Substance abuse assessment and referral

OHSU is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and educational environment. The Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989 amendments requires by law the annual distribution (to students and employees) of an informational brochure that includes the OHSU alcohol and drug policies, counseling and assistance programs, OHSU, and legal sanctions, health risks and effects of controlled substances.  OHSU alcohol and drug guide: A resource for employees and students.

Substance abuse services at Student Health:

• Assessment and referral for treatment of alcohol and other substance abuse problems. Assessment, counseling, and/or referrals are confidential and are not reported to any persons or licensing boards.
• Counseling concerning family members who have substance abuse problems

Substance abuse services at OHSU and in the community:

• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings. For information regarding meeting sites, days, and times, please call the Portland Area Intergroup's Central Office at 503-223-8569 or visit their website.
• The OHSU Avel Gordly Center for Healing is a multicultural, adult outpatient treatment clinic providing services for substance abuse and mental health via psychiatric evaluation, medication management, and risk reduction training and education. Services include DUI-related programs and treatment of problem gambling. The Avel Gordly Center focuses on diverse populations with special emphasis on the needs of the African American and Asian communities. Read more about the Avel Gordly Center for Healing on the OHSU Psychiatry website

Suicide prevention

Every four days, someone in Portland dies from suicide, making the city's suicide rate higher than the national rate. Oregon's suicide rate has long outpaced the country. In 2010, the state was 41 percent higher than the national average.