Back in Smith Center, University Health Services Begins New Year

Students will find more than coffee shops and comfortable orange chairs in the newly renovated Smith Campus Center this fall — some parts of University Health Services are moving into renovated digs, according to an email from UHS director Paul J. Barreira to students Monday.

As announced in the summer, HUHS 24/7 Urgent Care will now be offered in the Smith Campus Center, instead of its temporary location at Pound Hall on the Law School Campus. According to Barreira, this relocation has not caused a significant increase in use of the urgent care services, though he noted that students are likely “happier” with the new location.

Counseling and Mental Health Services reopened this semester in a “completely renovated new space” on the 4th floor of the Smith Campus Center, Barreira wrote. CAMHS will continue providing outpatient care for mental health concerns ranging from depression to crisis management, without a copay charge.

Additionally, CAMHS will continue with its Let’s Talk drop-in program, as well as online group mental health workshops, a program first launched last year. Barreira wrote that this program, called iHope, will introduce new workshop topics for this year and will continue to offer programs during evenings and weekends.

Last spring, CAMHS created two new positions, an Internal Case Coordinator and a Community Referral Coordinator, with the intention of enhancing therapy efficiency.

Barreira also informed students of personnel changes in the Office for Sexual Assault Prevention and Response, which provides confidential support to students.

In June, OSAPR was joined by a new Director Pierre Berastaín Ojeda ’10, who, according to Barreira, will oversee “advocacy, education, prevention services, and supporting coordination within OSAPR and throughout the University to address the needs of people who have experienced gender-based violence or interpersonal harm.”

—Staff writer Ahab Chopra can be reached at ahab.chopra@thecrimson.com.

—Staff writer Ashley M. Cooper can be reached at ashley.cooper@thecrimson.com.