Through the TimelyMD app, Duke students can access no-cost 24/7 mental health care through their cell phones.
Users can connect with licensed providers from all 50 states at no cost and without needing to use traditional insurance. TimelyMD is a 24-hour service and “the only student-first telehealth provider that offers a complete care solution for campus health," according to its website.
The number of visits through Blue Devils Care doubled from August to October, and one-third of all visits through the TimelyCare app have occurred after Counseling and Psychological Services hours, according to Abby Waldron, client success manager at TimelyMD.
TimelyCare refers to the general program—24/7, no-cost telehealth services for students, while TimelyMD is "an independent company that provides virtual visits for college students," according to the TimelyCare website.
The telehealth app allows students to choose between two available services: TalkNow and Scheduled Counseling. TalkNow provides students with access to 24/7, on-demand mental health support to talk about anything at any time, including after hours or on weekends. Scheduled Counseling gives students the option to set up regular telehealth counseling appointments with a licensed provider.
“TimelyCare allows students to see the profiles, faces and specialty care details of a diverse range of licensed providers available to them,” Waldron wrote in an email. “For example, we have licensed providers who are Black, LGBTQ, Muslim, and many other identities that are often underrepresented and highly sought after in campus counseling centers.”
In addition to mental health support, the TimelyCare app now offers free virtual group classes and discussions. Some of the class offerings include yoga classes as well as meditation and featured discussions with expert panelists and moderators.
Duke decided to partner with TimelyMD near the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Vice Dean of Students Amy Powell.
“The decision to partner with Timely MD was solidified at the onset of COVID-19, which necessitated a quick implementation process,” Powell wrote in an email.
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