Uwill to Become Online Learning Consortium's Exclusive Teletherapy Partner
- By Kate Lucariello
- 07/24/23
Higher education mental health company Uwill and education research organization Online Learning Consortium (OLC) have joined forces to help provide effective teletherapy services to colleges and universities. Uwill will be the exclusive teletherapy partner to OLC.
OLC's mission to promote quality online, blended, and digital learning resources includes a commitment to the well-being of college students, whose mental health needs have increased since the pandemic, said Jennifer Mathes, OLC CEO.
"Through this partnership, we are committed to furthering the conversation around supporting online learners to ensure their success," Mathes said. "Online institutions may need an increased focus on supporting student mental health to ensure academic success, as this factor is correlated to a student choosing not to continue their education."
To this end, the Uwill and OLC have agreed to conduct joint research during fall 2023 to determine what those mental health needs are and how best to meet them. Citing research from the National Alliance on Mental Illness and JAMA, Uwill noted that one in five adults experiences mental health problems each year, and online college students exhibit more stress, anxiety, and depression than students who attend classes in person.
Uwill addressed these issues for college students by creating a student and licensed therapist matching platform to set up immediate appointments and offer "all modalities of teletherapy, a direct crisis connection, wellness events, realtime data, and support," the company said.
"The number of non-traditional learners at postsecondary institutions has escalated in recent years," said Michael London, founder and CEO of Uwill. "Adult learners are not just dealing with the rigor of academic study, they are also faced with other life circumstances including employment, family, financial decisions, and other challenges that can negatively affect their academic behaviors."
About the Author
Kate Lucariello is a former newspaper editor, EAST Lab high school teacher and college English teacher.