Lake Land College believes in supporting the success of our students on both a personal and academic level, and we know that this all starts with their mental health and wellness. We have established the following mental health resources, including free online mental health counseling through BetterMynd, for our students.
Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org
988 offers 24/7 access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing mental health-related distress. That could be:
People can call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for themselves or if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.
988 serves as a universal entry point so that no matter where you live in the United States, you can reach a trained crisis counselor who can help.
Call 1-800-273-8255 – press 1 for Veterans services or text 838255 or confidential crisis chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net
24/7 support, connect to a real person qualified to support Veterans. You are not alone – the Veterans Crisis Line is here for you. You don’t have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to call.
1–800–273–TALK (1-800-273-8255)
This is a crisis hotline that can help with many issues, not just suicide. For example, anyone who feels sad, hopeless, or suicidal; family and friends who are concerned about a loved one; or anyone interested in mental health treatment referrals can call the Lifeline. Callers are connected with a professional nearby who will talk with them about what they are feeling or concerns for other family and friends. Call the toll-free Lifeline, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
1-866-567-2400
LifeLinks maintains a 24 hour behavioral health crisis service system. When a caller phones the toll free number, they are immediately connected to a trained crisis clinician.
1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746
SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline provides 24/7, 365-day-a-year crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters.
1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678678
Trained counselors are available 24/7 to support youth who are in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgment free place to talk. Specializing in supporting the LGBTQI+ community.
ULifeline offers free mental health online screening for depression, anxiety, eating disorders and alcohol and substance misuse.
The College partners with BetterMynd to offer our students access to online therapy sessions with their diverse network of licensed mental health counselors. Through the partnership, each Lake Land College student can access up to eight (8) free online therapy sessions each year on the BetterMynd platform. These live video-sessions are private, confidential, and can take place from the convenience of a laptop or smartphone.
To get started, students should log into their Laker Hub and click on the BetterMynd logo. Students must register with their Lake Land College email address to utilize BetterMynd mental health support and counseling services. Students register from the website by selecting “Get Started” and then “I am a College Student.” Registration generates a BetterMynd portal where students can access services and information. After the initial registration, students will be able to log in to their BetterMynd portal directly from the BetterMynd site.
Lake Land College also partners with local service providers to ensure students have safe, confidential mental health services available locally. Additional resources are available at www.lakelandcollege.edu/counseling-services/crisis-and-community-resources/.
Heartland Human Services1200 N. Fourth StreetPO Box 1047Effingham, IL 62401217-347-7179 Ext. 1016www.heartlandhs.org
LifeLinks750 Broadway Ave EastMattoon, IL 61938217-238-5719www.lifelinksinc.org
RISE Behavioral Health & Wellness114 W. Houghton St.Tuscola, IL 61953217-253-4731www.risedoco.com
Active Minds at Lake Land College student club is a chapter of the national organization Active Minds. This chapter was created at Lake Land to allow a way for students to meet and work together in the pursuit of raising awareness for mental illness. Because this club is not only a club, but a national chapter, there are networking opportunities with 800+ universities and colleges across the nation.
Basic V-A-R® is Active Minds’ everyday guide for helping other students who may be experiencing mental health issues. It’s about showing up for one another in everyday struggles. The letters V-A-R correspond to three steps: Validate, Appreciate and Refer. The steps are easy-to-understand, easy-to-do, and easy-to-remember. The V-A-R training provides a guide to listening and responding in a helpful way.
This three step approach give students the skills they need to know what to say and do in those difficult moments. A conversation that includes the elements of Validate, Appreciate, Refer is one that allows you to actively listen to someone you care about and help them cope. A conversation with you could make all the difference and prevent a crisis from developing later. With V-A-R, Active Minds lets everyone know that someone doesn’t need to be in a crisis to seek help; you don’t have to be an expert to provide help; and help can come in many different forms. Being there for someone in a moment of need is what it’s all about.
If you are interested in being part of Active Minds at Lake Land College or would like more information on V-A-R Training, please contact Student Life or email the club advisor at aniebrugge71503@lakelandcollege.edu.