University of Arizona students can now enroll in an intensive mental health treatment program on campus without interrupting their academic schedules. UA’s Counseling and Psychological Services partnered with behavioral health provider Sierra Tucson to launch Sierra on Campus, an intensive outpatient program designed for students who need more support than weekly counseling but do not require inpatient hospitalization. The program, held at the CAPS NorthREC location, meets Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4-7 p. m. with an additional weekly individual counseling session. Students can self-refer online, and those enrolled in the university’s United Student Health Insurance Plan will pay no out-of-pocket costs. According to CAPS director Aaron Barnes, planning for the partnership began nearly two years ago, following conversations with peer institutions running similar models. “I visited the Sierra Tucson campus near Catalina and got to know more about their values and mission,” Barnes said. “There was a lot of alignment in our goals and in the way we think about supporting student mental health.” According to Barnes, CAPS serves roughly 8 to 10% of students annually, but some require a higher level of care than traditional campus counseling can provide. “This is about expanding our continuum of care,” Barnes said. “To go from a hospital to nothing is really hard. This gives students a step down from hospitalization, or a way to avoid it altogether.” The first cohort began in early November. As described by Sierra Tucson Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jasleen Chhatwal, the university’s clinical needs and preexisting partnership made it the right place to launch the program. “We treat many young adults at our residential program,” Chhatwal said. “This collaboration allows us to intervene earlier. Students often need support that’s more structured than weekly therapy but less disruptive than taking a leave from school. That in-between space is where an IOP can be transformative.” According to Chhatwal, the on-campus model provides structured clinical care without removing students from their campus routines. “An IOP simply means getting deeper, more consistent support than once-a-week therapy,” Chhatwal said. “It’s therapeutic, but also practical. You learn skills you can apply right away in daily life.” As described by CAPS assistant director for Outreach, Groups and Technology Leslie Ralph, traditional off-campus intensive programs often pose logistical barriers for students. “We wanted to create an option built specifically for students,” Ralph said. “The program meets later in the day, on campus, in a space where students already feel comfortable.” According to Ralph, many students who reach crisis levels of care may benefit from earlier, more accessible intervention. “Every year we see students who need to take a leave from school or go to the hospital to tend to their mental health,” Ralph said. “Our goal is to help prevent that whenever possible by getting students the right level of care at the right time.” Student groups range from two to 15 participants and operate on a rolling enrollment basis. Program effectiveness will be evaluated through student participation, academic retention, symptom improvement and student feedback. According to Barnes, the program is built to help students remain enrolled while engaging in intensive treatment. “You don’t have to choose between your mental health and your education,” Barnes said. “You can work on both, and we’re here to support you in doing that.” As detailed by Chhatwal, the results of this first launch could influence campus mental health care models at other universities. “If this remains aligned with student needs, it could serve as a model for other campuses,” Chhatwal said. “Our goal is to make high-quality care accessible in a way that supports students’ success.”.
https://wildcat.arizona.edu/162871/news/ua-partners-with-sierra-tucson-to-launch-first-on-campus-intensive-mental-health-program/
UA partners with Sierra Tucson to launch first on-campus intensive mental health program
