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.

Featured

  • a glowing gaming controller, a digital tree structure, and an open book

    Report: Use of Game Engines Expands Beyond Gaming

    Game development technology is increasingly being utilized beyond its traditional gaming roots, according to the recently released annual "State of Game Development" report from development and DevOps solutions provider Perforce Software.

  • abstract representation of equity at the core of AI

    Why Equity Must Be a Core Part of the Conversation About AI

    AI is an immensely powerful tool that can provide customized support for students with diverse learning needs, tailoring educational experiences to meet student’s individual needs more effectively. However, significant disparities in AI access and digital literacy skills prevent many of these same students from fully leveraging its benefits.

  • Man wearing headset working on a computer

    Internet2: Network Routing Security and RPKI Adoption in Research and Education

    We ask James Deaton, vice president of network services, about Internet2's initiatives and leadership efforts to promote routing security and RPKI adoption in research and higher education networks.

  • network of transparent cloud icons, each containing a security symbol like a lock or shield

    Okta, OpenID Foundation Propose New Identity Security Standard

    Okta and the OpenID Foundation have announced the formation of the IPSIE Working Group — with the acronym standing for Interoperability Profiling for Secure Identity in the Enterprise — dedicated to a new identity security standard for Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications.