Hopkins partners with TimelyMD to offer remote mental health counseling

Johns Hopkins University students now have access to a new remote counseling platform powered by TimelyMD, a leading provider of telehealth services for college students. The platform connects students with licensed counselors for both scheduled appointments and 24/7 on-demand mental health needs.

Services provided by TimelyMD will supplement existing counseling and mental health services provided by the Homewood Counseling Center, University Health Services Mental Health, and the Johns Hopkins Student Assistance Program. All three offices continue to provide care for Hopkins students remotely through phone and/or telehealth video appointments.

Kevin Shollenberger, vice provost for student health and well-being, said the partnership with TimelyMD will help the university address an increased demand for mental health support stemming from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. It will also allow JHU to circumvent obstacles to the delivery of video-based therapy presented by state-by-state licensure rules for mental health providers.

"Supporting our students' mental health and well-being is a major institutional priority," Shollenberger said. "We are pleased to partner with TimelyMD, which will augment our current mental health services by providing students and learners with access to licensed clinicians in their respective states, free of charge."

The TimelyMD portal will give students access to two resources:

• TalkNow, a 24/7 on-demand telehealth support line staffed by mental health professionals, including counselors, psychologists, and family therapists. Users can contact TalkNow about any topic, including issues with relationship challenges, anxiety related to COVID-19, transition issues, or personal problems.
• Scheduled counseling, where users can set up ongoing telehealth counseling appointments with a provider licensed in their state. This function will be available starting April 30.

The university's partnership with TimelyMD is scheduled to last through at least July 10, and there are no limits on the number of times students can access either scheduled counseling or TalkNow services. The services are free for Johns Hopkins students and learners, but others can access them for a fee of $79 per visit.

TimelyMD does not provide medication management or psychiatric help; students should contact University Health Services, JHSAP, or the Counseling Center to discuss those services.

For students and learners who continue to reside in Maryland, telehealth video visits with a JHU mental health provider are among the service options that remain available. For students and learners who are currently outside of Maryland, JHU mental health providers can discuss options or continue support until a connection is made with other options such as TimelyMD.