Mental health platform used by NJ college students to be funded through 2026
MONTCLAIR, N.J. (PIX11) - For many, college is the road into adulthood, a road that can sometimes be rough.
"It's a huge transformation going through their life," said Montclair State University junior Zhi-Yi Hsu. "They're becoming basically a new identity, or a transformed identity, and that does take a huge mental toll on a lot of students."
Many students turn to mental health services to get them through those years. One online platform utilized by college students in New Jersey under a special program was set to sunset, but Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way came to MSU to announce that the platform will be funded through the end of the Murphy administration in 2026.
"We want to make sure that if any moment one of our precious kids are struggling that there would be someone there to help them," said Way.
That platform is called UWill, providing online mental health services to students, 24/7/365. Billed as a first-in-the-nation partnership with New Jersey, UWill's services are available for free to students at 45 of the Garden State's institutions of higher education.
The Murphy administration said more than 10,000 New Jersey students have used the platform, and Hsu is among them.
"It gave me almost a gateway into mental health services that are out there because I've never had therapy professionally on my own in person," said Hsu.
"It's a little bit sad that 70% of students going to college say they expect to use counseling services," said MSU President Jonathan Koppell, "but what a great thing that those students are willing to not just admit it - because that has stigma if I say admit - but to plainly declare they expect to need help."
Graduate student Lexi Robinson is studying mental health counseling and hopes future students see mental health as nothing to be ashamed of.
"I am hoping that it won't be a big thing in the future, but at the same time, I want it to be talked about," said Robinson. "I want students to know there are outlets they can talk to."