Mental Health Resources
First quarter is hard. Just about every student in the program will tell you that it was their most difficult time but also that things will only get better from here! Remember that you’re doing your best and that you are here for a reason.
Mental health is extremely important in graduate school. There is no "typical" grad student, and the wide variability of projects, advisors, backgrounds, and other contributing factors can make two students' grad school experiences very different. Weighing and comparing your mental health struggles against those of other students is a recipe for distress. No issues are too large or too small to be "worth" seeking help for.
Both psychology and psychiatry services are available to graduate students and are generally covered by the University Health Insurance. Psychology is managed by Counseling and Psychology Services (CAPS), while psychiatric care is managed through the Student Health Center (SHS).
(A quick note on the difference between psychologists and psychiatrists: psychologists are mental health professionals that typically have a doctoral degree, and thus are well equipped to offer help through therapy; psychiatrists are medical doctors that have an MD and thus are able to prescribe medicine/medical treatments for mental health conditions. Both have their purposes and can even be used together, it is just important to be aware of their differences and what you are looking for when you seek help.)
To be seen by either type of specialist, you will need to do an initial brief assessment that typically happens the same day that you first start the process. They will then recommend some best options for you, and you can start seeing a specialist within 1-2 weeks, depending on availability.
Referrals to many off-campus services and providers for long-term care are also covered by the University insurance. If you have an external provider in mind already, you can email CAPS for a referral with very quick turnaround. Often, off-campus specialists are easier to schedule and as long as the provider is in-network for UC SHIP (Anthem) you will not have to pay a co-pay. These options can be explored regardless of if you have gone through the initial intake process through the on-campus services. (Note: on campus therapists are in very high demand and you may get faster care by going off-campus immediately).
UCSB SHS also covers LiveHealthOnline, which offers teletherapy services that require no referral and have a quick turn-around time for appointments. There is no copay for these services.
The UCSB Student Wellbeing site has a great collection of links to various university programs and services, ranging from stress management to more urgent needs such as the Distressed Student Guide (see below).
The UCSB Distressed Student Guide provides very succinct instructions and links for how to seek help if you suspect that you or someone you know may be suffering from an urgent mental health crisis.
UCSB Mental Health Peers provide an amazing set of resources for navigating the mental health challenges of graduate school. The peers have easily accessible drop-in hours where they meet with you individually and provide a listening ear. They can also help you get connected with longer-term professional care. The MSA also tries to have a MHP come to give a workshop/seminar every 1-2 years, so be on the lookout for those announcements.
SHS: Student Health Services
The Student Health Center has a number of health practitioners and services, and is conveniently located within walking distance of San Clemente Housing. Graduate students can have a primary-care provider through SHS. SHS can help you with dental, vision, physical therapy, blood tests, flu shots, annual checkups, and more. A full list of services can be found on their website. Most graduate students start at SHS for health care, but other hospital centers exist within the area such as Cottage Health and Sansum Clinic, which both have urgent care centers for mild emergencies outside of SHS hours.
IMPORTANT: if you want to see a provider for specific problems that SHS cannot address, you typically still need to be referred by an SHS physician/RN for insurance purposes! Setting up a consult appointment usually has a pretty fast turnaround though, and the SHS providers are typically very supportive and receptive.
The UC SHIP health insurance provided to graduate students (covered by the department) is good for routine checkups and services. At SHS, they will refer you to in-network providers where the copays are generally not expensive.
Vision: the insurance gets you $120 towards new glasses or contacts, and an annual exam with a small copay at an in-network provider (see options here).
Dental: the insurance offers two covered cleanings per year, and a small co-pay for additional services such as cavity fillings for in-network providers (more info here).
Physical therapy: the PT center in SHS is great and has a reasonable co-pay (typically ~$20 per session).
Vaccinations: the SHS typically hosts a vaccine clinic during the fall quarter (October) and offers various vaccines (all covered by UC SHIP), including the flu shot, COVID booster, and more, so be sure to check your email around this time of year if interested!
Urgent-care centers such as Sansum Clinic's or Cottage Health's come with a copay ($25 in 2024) if in-network. Cottage and Sansum are both in-network as of 2024. Emergency rooms are $200 in-network but the copay is waived at an in-network hospital if you are admitted.
Academic Counseling
Navigating Group/Advisor Conflict
If you are having trouble with your group and/or advisor but aren’t sure how to proceed, we recommend reaching out to Ryan Sims, who is an Associate Director and Academic Counselor with Grad Div. He is a kind and knowledgeable student advocate who will do his best to guide you through these difficult relationships, whether that means helping you develop the tools to advocate for yourself in this setting, or providing support if you choose to switch advisors/groups. You can find his information on this page, or reach him directly by email here: ryan.sims@graddiv.ucsb.edu.
Switching Advisors
Do not feel bad about switching advisors. PhDs are nonlinear and everyone's path will be different. Be ready to work to get yourself established in your new group. Additionally, your new groupmates can be some of your greatest assets in helping you get up to speed. Do not worry too much about when you take your prelim/qual exams after switching groups. It is understood that you will need some extra time to become acquainted with your new project and thus your timeline may be offset from what is generally prescribed by the department. Take the exams when you are ready, though do be in contact with your advisor and committee about this. There is nothing on the books about a full quarter of funding being guaranteed by the department for someone switching groups; however, it seems most have not had a lapse in funding during this process (please let us know if this wasn't the case for you).
Reporting (Harassment and Title IX)
Workplace/Sexual Harassment
If you wish to talk to someone confidentially (NOT REPORT):
- Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) - schedule a 1-time appointment with a counselor (link)
- Office of the Ombuds - call their number (805-893-3285) to set up an appointment and get advice on campus-related concerns (link)
- Campus Advocacy, Resources, and Education (CARE) - specifically for interpersonal violence; can call a 24-hour advocacy line (805-893-4613) or make an appointment (link)
If you DO want to report, contact the Title IX and Sexual Harassment Policy Compliance Office (webpage found here).
Bias/Discrimination-Based Harassment
A bias incident is defined as an act of bigotry, harassment, or intimidation that is motivated in whole or in part by bias based on an individual’s or group’s actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status or military affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
If you've experienced such behavior and are unsure if you wish to take action, you may reach out to studentlife@sa.ucsb.edu to have an informal conversation with a member of the Dean of Students Office about the reporting process to determine your best options. Please remember that any UC employee who is not identified as a confidential resource is a ‘Responsible Employee’ required to report sexual violence, sexual harassment or other conduct prohibited by the policy to the Title IX officer or designee.
If you know right away that you want to take action, there are two main avenues for reporting. Your first option is to direct the specific bias incident here. For this form, you can retain as much anonymity as you wish, and can choose how much contact you have with campus officials. This form has the same caveat as above, that it is not considered confidential as the information you provide may be subject to Title IX or Clery Act reporting requirements, but they will do their best to respect your wish for privacy. Your second option, and what will likely be needed if the discriminatory behavior came from a staff or faculty member, is to report it to the Title IX office. This option is not confidential; more information about this and how to report for Title IX can be found here.
Workplace Violence Prevention Program
UCSB now has a workplace violence prevention program, which serves to inform and empower UC employees to recognize and report incidents of workplace violence, both from employees and non-campus affiliated visitors. For more information or to report an incident, please visit their website https://www.wvp.ucsb.edu/.
