Mental illness is a medical condition that can involve changes in emotions, thinking, and/or behavior, as well as imbalances of neurotransmitters in the brain. Like any other medical condition, medication can be highly beneficial in mitigating symptoms of mental illness.

The SHWC offers psychiatric evaluation and medication management services. Your treatment may consist of psychotherapy only, a combination of psychotherapy and medication management, or—in very rare cases—medication management only. If appropriate, our staff psychiatrist will work with you to determine whether psychotropic medication could be a treatment option.

When you schedule a psychiatric appointment, you will meet with the psychiatrist for an initial psychiatric evaluation, which typically takes about 75 minutes. Thereafter, follow-up appointments are usually 20 minutes. Frequency and duration of treatment is based on your specific needs. There are no guarantees about how each individual will respond to treatment; therefore, it is important to attend all psychiatric appointments when scheduled and discuss any concerns with your psychiatrist as soon as they arise.

Any paperwork that needs to be completed by the psychiatrist needs to be done during the appointment times. If you have specific paperwork for the psychiatrist to complete, please schedule an appointment with the psychiatrist and bring the paperwork with you.

You also have the responsibility, if prescribed medication, to keep track of your medication and request refills in a timely manner. Our staff psychiatrist is part-time and requires sufficient time to review and—as appropriate—complete your refill requests. It is also the responsibility of the student to ensure that they have a provider to manage their psychiatric medications when school is not in session. Services are not provided during breaks—including over the summer—or after graduation.

Additional medication management services are offered through the Health Services area of the SHWC.