Lakeland Community College has partnered with the developer of a mobile app for anxiety, stress and depression support. The app's self-help tools are meant to supplement the professional counseling and psychological services offered by the college.

Utilizing federal CARES Act funding that was designated by the State of Ohio for campus mental health, the college has purchased premium access to the Sanvello app for all students and employees over the next three years.

"We know from past research that close to 40% of Lakeland students struggle with depression, anxiety and other mental health difficulties. Of those, only half report that they sought professional help," said Lakeland campus psychologist Ken Browner, Psy.D. "There will always be some students who are not comfortable or interested in doing so or who prefer self-help avenues. This app offers a convenient way for them to develop skills for mental wellness and resilience. With the added stress of the ongoing pandemic and social unrest, this initiative is especially timely."

Sanvello provides a variety of on-demand features all in one place: guided relaxation, tools for recognizing unhealthy thought patterns, personal goal setting, tracking mood and stress level and developing healthy habits. It is consistently listed in the top medical app downloads and was recognized as one of the "Best of 2017" by Apple.

Recognizing the need to address the growing concern of mental health in students, Lakeland formed a task force to address the issue. In 2016, Lakeland launched the "Reach Out" app intended primarily for suicide prevention. The success of "Reach Out" at Lakeland has led to its adoption and use by 13 other colleges and universities.

However, as environmental and social climates continued to affect daily life for many in 2020, the task force looked into an additional support tool to assist students—as well as employees—with coping strategies. They found that Sanvello offered a user-friendly interface and a wide range of tools to manage stress, improve mood, and explore self-care activities. Lakeland students and employees will be able to have free premium access through Dec. 31, 2023.

According to Cathy Bush, senior vice president for institutional development and effectiveness, Sanvello is a good complement to the College's employee assistance program (EAP) provided by IMPACT Solutions. At the start of the new year, IMPACT Solutions teamed up with All One Health Company to expand their services and resources, including a new member portal, MyLifeExpert.

This new member portal gives employees access to thousands of up-to-date articles, videos, podcasts, calculators and webinars related to family & education, health & wellness, financial & legal, career and everyday living. A range of confidential counseling services continue to be available at no cost to employees, their spouse/partner, household members, dependents in and away from home and parents/parents-in-law.

By: Jessica Novak