Student Wellness Program

Medical Director: Linda Worley, MD
Staff Psychiatrist: Angela Shy, MD
Lead Therapist: Barbara Baldwin, LCSW
Therapist: Janice Summerhill, LPC

Chief Psychiatry Resident: Blaine Henderson, MD
Program Manager: Meshelle Helms

Administrative Support:  Ms. Sherry Bullard

The UAMS Student Wellness Program (SWP) is a preventative service created to provide short term, confidential assistance for students who are actively enrolled at UAMS (Little Rock Campus). The purpose of this service is to provide the necessary tools for students to achieve their fullest potential.

Students seek help for depression, anxiety, grief, relationship conflicts, academic difficulties and numerous other issues interfering with their maximal functioning. Seeking care through the service is absolutely confidential. The only exceptions to the strict code of confidentially (as required by law) include homicidality (planning to kill someone else, or being so severely impaired that patients in your care are in jeopardy), suicidality (planning to kill self) and child abuse. Record keeping is also strictly confidential within the student mental health clinic (not entered into the campus wide UAMS electronic medical record).

For short term treatment, there is no financial cost to students seeking care. The service is made possible through the support of the UAMS Chancellor, the Deans of the Colleges at UAMS and a portion of the student health fee. When utilization reports are generated, the number of students utilizing the service and the types of problems students seek help for may be reported. Specific identifying information about students is NOT released. Note: Should a student's treatment require medication, the cost of filling a prescription is up to the student. Unfortunately sample medications are not readily available any longer.

Due to the high volume of utilization, students are asked to keep an appointment once it is made or cancel as far as possible in advance to allow other students needing services timely access.

Referrals for Long Term Difficulties: 
Students suffering from major mental illnesses and/or severe substance addiction requiring inpatient hospitalization and/or intensive long term care will be referred to a community mental health center, the UAMS Psychiatric Clinic, or to appropriate resources in the community. The cost for this level of care is the responsibility of the student (it is important to maintain health insurance coverage without lapse through school).

Hours: 
The Student Wellness Clinic can be reached between 7:15 AM & 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. Students are seen by appointment only. To schedule a confidential appointment, telephone Ms. Meshelle Helms, (program manager) or Ms. Sherry Bullard at (501) 686-8408. Both are trained to confidentially elicit information to allow for effective triage and scheduling with the most skilled clinician for a student’s particular problem. In the rare event of an after hours emergency, telephone the UAMS operator at (501) 686-7000 identify yourself as a UAMS student with an emergent problem and request the operator to page the UAMS Department of Psychiatry resident on call.

Location:
The Student Wellness Office Suite is located at 201 Jack Stephen’s Drive, on the street level. Parking is available in front of the clinic in spots reserved for the ‘Student Wellness Program’ for the duration of the appointment.   Unauthorized vehicles are ticketed and towed.

Map to Student Mental Health Office (PDF)

UAMS Department of Psychiatry
4301 W. Markham # 554
Little Rock, AR 72205
501-526-8100
501-526-8199 (fax)
Notice of Privacy Practices