Uplift Counseling Services Expands their Reach to College Students

By Lavina Camacho, Behavioral Health Administrator

In October of 2021, Uplift Counseling Services began a new partnership with the Guam Community College (GCC) offering behavioral health support and services, allowing the community college to address mental health directly. This collaboration stemmed from WestCare Pacific Islands (WPI) identifying the unmet needs and barriers for this young adult population when accessing urgent mental health services. WPI took things a step further by also actively addressing the emotional wellbeing of the college staff as they support the various academic, social, and emotional needs of the students. This partnership comes at a critical time as the island’s primary mental health resource for college students was discontinued and COVID-19 continues to negatively impact college students’ mental health and ability to cope.

Uplift’s behavioral health team is committed to providing the GCC community with virtual and in-person presentations on topics related to wellness, individual counseling, referrals, linkages based on need, readily accessible screenings for suicide, depression, anxiety, and professional consultation on concerns that adversely impact individual students and employees.

Together, Uplift Counseling Services and GCC are collectively fostering a conducive environment of encouragement and empowerment by focusing on positive mental health and the importance of taking care of the emotional wellbeing of students and faculty!