Mental Health Resources

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.

Crisis Services

BetterMynd Partnership

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.

Local Agency Partnerships

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 Services
1200 N. Fourth Street
PO Box 1047
Effingham, IL 62401
217-347-7179 Ext. 1016
www.heartlandhs.org

LifeLinks
750 Broadway Ave East
Mattoon, IL 61938
217-238-5719
www.lifelinksinc.org

RISE Behavioral Health & Wellness
114 W. Houghton St.
Tuscola, IL 61953
217-253-4731
www.risedoco.com

Active Minds at Lake Land College

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. 

Active Minds V-A-R Training for Students

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.