Michelle Huang
Contributing Writer
College life brings consistent stress for students at higher education institutions. Heavy coursework, tight deadlines, group projects and ongoing adjustment challenges leave many undergraduates navigating heightened anxiety, burnout and homesickness throughout the semester. Many freshmen and international students find it especially hard to settle into new routines and build social connections on campus. While most College of Wooster students recognize that campus mental health support exists, many remain unfamiliar with specific services, sign-up procedures and tailored resources on the campus itself.
The Longbrake Student Wellness Center serves as the College’s core provider of one-on-one counseling services. Licensed professional counselors support students dealing with academic pressure, interpersonal conflict, emotional distress and transitional difficulties. Students can schedule initial intake appointments through the phone during weekday business hours.
In addition to formal ongoing therapy, the center hosts the “Let’s Talk” drop-in consultation program. The service requires no paperwork, registration or long-term commitment. Students visit for brief, casual conversations to process stress and receive professional guidance. The low-pressure structure accommodates students who are new to counseling or unsure about long-term therapeutic support.
Ruiqi Yan ’27 shared her experience using campus wellness support through the “Let’s Talk” program. “When I feel overwhelmed by school pressure or struggle with poor sleep, I stop by to ask for practical stress‑relief strategies. The staff gives timely, helpful responses, and I find those suggestions really useful,” Yan said.
International students can receive specialized mental health access through the MySSP mobile platform. The free and confidential application offers 24/7 multilingual counseling services. The resource reduces language and cultural barriers that could discourage international students from seeking in-person campus support while studying abroad.
The campus Care Team further strengthens student well-being outreach across departments as faculty, staff and peers can submit referrals for students experiencing noticeable academic or emotional struggles. The team coordinates personalized campus support and connects students to appropriate wellness resources, though the service does not replace emergency crisis intervention.
For severe, time-sensitive mental health situations, students can access external crisis support beyond campus facilities. The national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides free 24-hour hotline assistance for individuals in acute emotional crisis. Wooster Community Hospital also accepts around-the-clock mental health emergency cases for students requiring immediate clinical attention. More resources are listed on the Longbreak Student Wellness Page tab on the College’s main page. Additional specialized peer support lines offer safe resources for marginalized student communities on various college campuses, including the Trevor Project, the Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective and Therapy for Latinx.
For more information on campus mental health resources, please contact the Longbrake Student Wellness Center. If someone you know is struggling or experiencing a suicidal or mental health crisis, call or text 988 to be connected to the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Services in English and Spanish.