NIC Blog
Health Management Systems of America and Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Team Up to Help College Students
Tags: HMSA, Pi Kappa Phi, Associate Member, Student Health, Counseling Services
Media Contact:
Ann Marie Fortunate
Franco Public Relations
(313) 567-5040
fortunate@franco.com
Health Management Systems of America and Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity
Team Up to Help College Students with Tough Problems
Unique program provides 24-hour access to help students cope with stress factors
DETROIT, MI - Health Management Systems of America (HMSA) recently partnered with Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity in a Campus Assistance Program (CAP), that enables them to provide access to 13,000 behavioral health counselors for confidential and anonymous counseling and assistance to 8,000 undergraduate students at 165 universities across the country.
Stress, anxiety and depression are common realities for college students. When it reaches a point where it becomes overwhelming, many students are either too embarrassed to seek help or aren't sure where to go to find help.
"The Campus Assistance Program offers a new way to help students, who are experiencing more stress than ever before, find an easy, confidential manner to meet with counselors who can help them work through their problems," said Steve Lovett, director of marketing for HMSA. "This new program offers active fraternity members access to counseling and assistance services in a quick easy way that they are comfortable with - via phone or computer. With the option to call or log-on online, there is always help available."
Dr. Lori Hart is the director of alcohol education for Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. While there are viable options for counseling assistance on American college campuses, CAP provides another layer of service for our members and this service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
"There are challenges with the current system - students need to find the time to seek help, there are stigmas associated with getting help and on a very basic level there is a lot of paperwork to be completed," Dr. Hart says of some current campus programs.
The customized program Pi Kappa Phi chose provides 24-hour access to behavioral counseling either via the internet or phone wherever and whenever it is needed - including near campus during the semester, but also close to home during college and university breaks. The HMSA/Pi Kappa Phi CAP program also provides assistance with stress management techniques, legal counseling and forms, financial counseling and services, life balance resource and online tools and helpful information.
"The program is very complimentary to our current menu of programs," says Hart. Pi Kappa Phi uses the CAP program in addition to a number of other programs from the national level of the fraternity as well as the fraternal information and programming group in addition to local campus programs.
HMSA Campus Assistance Programs are a voluntary and confidential program, providing short term counseling and referral services to help students with personal or family problems that if they didn't seek help for could negatively impact their school performance or their own well-being. There are a number of program options available, including a toll-free 24-hour crisis line, referral services, enhanced legal and financial services, critical incident stress management, campus messaging and other online resources.
About Health Management Systems of America
Health Management Systems of America (HMSA) is a nationally recognized leader in wellness and behavioral healthcare services. Established in 1980, the company has grown from a regional provider of behavioral health services to a nationwide leader in the field. Today, they provide customized behavioral health, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Work-Life services to thousands of clients across the country - including FORTUNE 500 corporations, government agencies, top universities and hospital systems. HMSA currently has programs in each of the 50 states in addition to international capabilities. HMSA is a privately held, independent corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. With a credentialed staff of more than 14,000 behavioral health counselors in 3,000+ cities across the country, they provide unparalleled access to counseling and wellness services.
###
HMSA is an Associate Member of the NIC.
