Am I Okay? — A Mental Health Navigation Tool
"What do I do if I'm overwhelmed?" is one of the most common questions students have — and one of the hardest to answer alone. Use this guide to find the right level of support for what you're experiencing right now.
Step 1: Identify What You're Feeling
Urgent/Crisis
Thoughts of harming yourself or others. Feeling unable to keep yourself safe. Significant disconnect from reality.
Overwhelmed but Stable
Exhausted, anxious, or burned out, but able to keep going. Struggling to cope but not in immediate danger.
Proactive/Preventive
Want to build skills, talk through stress, or check in before things get hard. Things are okay — you want to keep them that way.
Step 2: Match to the Right Support
If You're in Crisis
| Resource | Description |
|---|---|
| 988 Lifeline | Call or text 988 — 24/7 mental health crisis support, confidential |
| CAPS After-Hours | Call 435-797-1012 and press 0 — crisis counselor on call after hours |
| Not One More Vet | notonemorevet.com — vet-specific peer crisis community, active 24/7 |
| Emergency | Call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room for immediate danger |
If You're Overwhelmed but Stable
| Resource | Description |
|---|---|
| CAPS (Same/Next Day) | Call 435-797-1012 during business hours for same or next-day appointments |
| CAPS Single Session | A one-time, solution-focused meeting — no long-term commitment required |
| Vets4Vets Peer Line | Text 530-601-2133 — confidential peer support from veterinary professionals |
| OCP/Practice-Ready Advisor | For clinical year students, your direct wellness pathway during rotations |
If You're Being Proactive
| Resource | Description |
|---|---|
| ProQOL Self-Assessment | Free, 5-minute validated tool — check your burnout and compassion fatigue levels at proqol.org |
| CAPS Workshops | Free drop-in workshops on stress, sleep, mindfulness, and more each semester |
| REACH Peer Coaching | Trained peer coaches for low-intensity skills building — ask CAPS |
| AVMA My Vet Life | myvetlife.avma.org — self-care guides, wellbeing articles, vet-specific tools |
Mental Health Services
USU Counseling & Prevention Services (CAPS)
CAPS is USU's primary mental health resource. Most services are free, confidential, and not part of your academic record. DVM students enrolled in 6 or more credits are eligible.
What CAPS Offers — Students Don't Always Know This
CAPS is not just for ongoing therapy. These options exist for students who want lighter or faster support:
- Individual Therapy — Short-term, goal-oriented (6–8 sessions typical). One-on-one with a licensed counselor.
- Single-Session Appointments — One meeting, no ongoing commitment. Solution-focused; great when you need clarity, not a course of treatment.
- Group Therapy — Confidential groups with peers facing similar challenges. Especially helpful for isolation and relationship patterns.
- REACH Peer Coaching — Trained peers teach mental health skills: relaxation, mindfulness, healthy thinking, sleep hygiene, and more. No appointment required for some modules.
- Workshops — Free, open-to-all sessions each semester. Topics include stress management, test anxiety, healthy relationships, and more.
- Case Management/Thriving Campus — If CAPS isn't the right fit, case managers connect you to off-campus providers in Cache Valley and across Utah.
USU Student Health & Wellness Center (SHWC)
Run by Intermountain Health in partnership with USU. Primary care, urgent care, psychiatric medication management, and nutrition services — all on campus.
What the SHWC Offers DVM Students
- Primary care and urgent care (illness, injury, lab work, prescriptions)
- Psychiatric medication management — on-site access to mental health medication without leaving campus
- Registered Dietitian — nutrition planning and medical nutrition therapy (can support vet school stamina, not just clinical conditions)
- Student Health Center Therapy Program — short-term therapy sessions with psychology graduate students ($10/session if referred from CAPS)
- Women's health and family planning services
- Physical therapy (M–Th, 8 am–5 pm)
Additional USU Mental Health Resources
- SSAVI — Sexual assault support, advocacy, and interpersonal violence intervention — free, confidential.
- CARE Office — Personalized resource navigation for students in difficult circumstances (loss, hospitalization, financial crisis).
- Mind-Body Bridging (MBB) — Free clinic through USU Social Work I-System Institute — alleviates psychological distress, builds resilience.
- Conversational Space Makers — Peer-to-peer conflict resolution support.
- Thriving Campus — Searchable directory of off-campus therapists in Cache Valley and across Utah. Access through CAPS referral.