UC Merced Mental Health Support Options

UC Merced
Mental Health Support Options

When non-crisis counseling appointments are not readily available at Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), there are a number of options available for UC Merced Students.

Groups

CAPS offers groups for:

General College Student Support (Comfort in the Chaos)

Anxiety and Stress Management (Anxiety Toolbox)

Recovery from substance abuse problems (Peer Recovery Support Group)

LGBTQ+ support

Transgender Support

Undocumented Concerns

Graduate Student Support

Call (209) 228-4266 for more information about these groups.

WellTrack

CAPS sponsors an online website that allows students to work on anxiety/stress and depression on their own. Go to https://counseling.ucmerced.edu/welltrack to get started. It is a free service and can be downloaded for free from the App store using your UC Merced email address to access. Check out "Courses" and watch the videos on depression, anxiety/stress, and public speaking; track your moods with the Mood Tracker to see what correlates with mood changes; try the Zen Room found under "Tools" and customize a guided relaxation meditation.

Relaxation Station

CAPS partners with Health Promotions to offer a program that teaches students how to relax their mind and body using biofeedback. The Relaxation Station is at Granite Pass 159. Contact HEROES@UCMERCED.EDU to make an appointment or stop by Monday through Friday during business hours.

CAPS After-hours Phone Line

Whenever CAPS is closed, the CAPS phone line is answered by mental health professionals. This is a free service to students and can be accessed using the regular CPS phone line 209-228-4266. Available Monday through Frida 4:30 PM to 8 AM the following business day, and 24 hours a day on weekends and holidays.

Private Counseling

Use your medical insurance to access a therapist. There may be a co-pay for this service. You can find a provider through your medical insurance Member Services Department. Ask for a list of mental health providers in your insurance network who offer in-person or telehealth counseling sessions. Two resources known to offer telepsychology are:

Pacific Coast Psychiatric Associates Website: https://www.pcpasf.com

UC Student Health Insurance Program (UCSHIP) 

Website: https://www.ucop.edu/ucship/

In-Person therapy for students with Medi-Cal is available locally through ANOVA. Website: https://anovabh.com

Kaiser Patients can be seen by providers who accept Magellan insurance.

IF YOU FEEL YOU STILL NEED TO BE SEEN AT CAPS AFTER UTILIZING THESE RESOURCES, PLEASE CALL CAPS AT 209-228-4266