Mental health and wellness

Whether "publish or perish" or the pandemic has you stressed, we have your back.

We're glad you're here.

The University of Nevada, Reno is always prepared to assist graduate students who experience mental health challenges during their academic journey. Throughout and since the pandemic, efforts have been elevated to ensure students' health and well-being would continue to be supported, even as need continued to increase. Counseling Services and the Student Health Center quickly adapted their services to continue to provide high-quality psychiatric care remotely, while Fitness & Recreational Sports shared a number of workouts for free on their public YouTube channel to help students stay fit and fight stress. If you are struggling with mental health issues or traumatic experiences, we have doctors, counselors and resources available to help. Read on to learn more.

Thank you to the Graduate Student Association's Student Advocacy Committee for their contributions to this page. If you would like to be involved in advocating on behalf of fellow graduate students, we encourage you to join a GSA committee.

Crisis Support Center of NV

Call for free, confidential support at any time, 365 days a year. They're always available to help with issues such as depression and suicide; sexual assault support; domestic, child, and elder abuse; and substance abuse.

Call 1-800-273-8255 Text CARE to 839863

Community help directories

NV Attorney General's Office | Human trafficking resources
NV Health and Human Services | Gambling treatment facilities
NV Health and Human Services | Help for victims of rape, sexual assault and domestic violence
Washoe County Human Services Agency | Domestic violence shelters

Seeing a specialist off-campus may be covered by your graduate student health insurance.

Your mandatory graduate student healthcare plan through Aetna covers treatment from a variety of local mental health and wellness specialists, including counselors, psychiatrists, nutritionists and treatment facilities. Log in to find a provider, or as a guest, just enter your zip code and select the Open Choice PPO plan under Student Health Medical Plans. View the plan documents to see what is and is not covered.

Find a provider

LGBTQIA+ resources, support, community and advocacy

The Queer and LGBT Advocacy Board (QLAB), comprised of out and allied faculty and staff, makes an ongoing assessment of attitudes and conditions throughout the University regarding gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans and Queer persons and issues. Based on these assessments, they advocate for positive change and seek implementation.

QLAB shares the fruits of this work by maintaining a growing list of resources and a list of related student groups.

We have caring people to talk to on campus.

Counseling Services at the University of Nevada, Reno offers a variety of free, confidential services to graduate students.

Individual counseling Counseling Services offers short-term therapy with an emphasis on improving daily functioning and academic success. Counseling is currently conducted virtually.

Individual counseling services

Group therapy Our therapy groups are safe, confidential, and supportive environments to work through problems, heal old wounds and more. Groups are currently meeting virtually.

Group therapy services

The Downing Counseling Clinic The Downing Counseling Clinic is a training center for graduate students in the Counseling and Educational Psychology Program. All sessions are conducted by graduate students, supervised by faculty.

Downing Clinic

Urgent care If students have urgent psychological concerns, they have an opportunity to meet with a clinician during Urgent Care hours on Monday through Thursday.

We have psychiatric services and online resources.

The Student Health Center offers quality psychiatric care and additional online resources for students.

See a psychiatrist on-campus Schedule your appointment in advance to ensure a psychiatrist is available when you come in.

Psychiatric services

Virtual resources for students The Student Health Center has compiled articles, tips and tools for health and well-being.

Virtual resources

We offer resources and activities that can promote greater health and happiness.

Eating well, exercising and making friends can be transformative for your mental health and well-being. Here are some resources and ideas to get you started.

Prioritize yourself LiveWell is a University website with tools to help you prioritize your well-being and navigate campus resources to take care of you and your Pack.

LiveWell

Exercise Fitness & Recreational Sports offers affordable, in-person and free virtual fitness opportunities for students.

Fitness & Recreational Sports

Join a club The Graduate Student Association has a number of academic, social, physical-fitness and identity-related clubs to help you grow, connect and fight loneliness.

Graduate students eating outside together

Eat well The Student Health Center offers free on-campus nutrition services. Call ahead to meet with a registered dietician.

Nutrition therapy

Fruits and veggies in a heart-shaped bowl

We have resources to help you with addiction.

Whether you're trying to quit smoking, or you find yourself struggling with other addictive behaviors, we have resources for you.

NRAP Nevada Recovery and Prevention Community provides an environment of nurturing support and peer connections for students recovering from substance and behavioral addictions and students choosing a substance-free lifestyle.

Visit NRAP

Resources for quitting smoking It’s never too late to quit smoking. Quitting improves your health and reduces your risk of heart disease, cancer, lung disease, and other smoking-related illnesses.

CDC | How to quit smoking

Off-campus resources are also available.

Northern Nevada HOPES Northern Nevada HOPES is a community health center in Reno, NV that provide medical and wellness services to the insured and uninsured in our community.

Northern Nevada HOPES clinic