The Mental Health Clinic at UH West Oʻahu is extending its reach to students and making mental health services more accessible, recently revising its hours to include Saturdays and welcoming new members to join its support groups.
The clinic can now take clients (students) on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. On these days, the clinic will open at 9 a.m. and its last appointment will be taken at 3:30 p.m. (last appointment is from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.).
Dr. Steven Taketa, clinical psychologist at UH West Oʻahu, said many people have had to make significant adjustments to their schedules to balance school with familial and professional responsibilities because of the changes associated with COVID-19.
“We wanted to honor the students who are in need of treatment, but have had to put their health second to attend to other competing obligations,” Taketa said. “In particular, we hope that having availability on Saturdays will allow parents, student-employees, and learners who work during the week to have access to treatment.”
The Mental Health Clinic at UH West Oʻahu also offers support groups, which provide students with an opportunity to talk with, consult, and get feedback from peers in a safe and productive environment. A facilitator is assigned to each group to ensure that members are safe and that all of participants have an opportunity to access support.
“We have several support groups on campus and are looking to expand two of these groups at this time — the Women’s Group and the Open Group,” Taketa said.
The Women’s Group meets 2:30 to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays. It is reserved for individuals who identify as female and who wish to partner with other women to achieve optimal health and success.
The Open Group meets 10:30 a.m. to noon on Fridays. It is for all students and provides people with an opportunity to collaborate with individuals of the same or different gender. All participants are asked to keep group discussions confidential.
“Support groups are ideal for students who are not necessarily interested in psychotherapy, but want to get some extra support in overcoming life’s challenges,” Taketa said.
Students who are interested in joining a group or who would like to make an appointment at the clinic can email uhwotalk@hawaii.edu.
“On behalf of the Mental Health Clinic at UH West Oʻahu, I would like to thank everyone who has entrusted us with their care,” Taketa said.