Mental Health FAQs

The Center for Health and Well-being hours on the SWOSU campus are Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

The Counseling Center can be contacted by phone (580)-774-3776, walking in our office, or email susan.ellis@swosu.edu. We are located just inside the glass door located to the right of the entrance of the Wellness Center.

Referrals for Counseling Services on campus can be made multiple ways.

• On the Center for Health and Well-being website https://bulldog.swosu.edu/student-services/health-counseling/index.php

click on Begin Services Here on the right side of the screen.

• Students can walk into the center on their own during office hours of M-F, 8:00-12:00 p.m. and 1:00 P.M.-5:00 p.m. We are located just inside the glass door to the right of the entrance to the Wellness Center.
• Call 580-774-3776.
• Email ellis@swosu.edu.
• There is NO waiting list for students to see a counselor.

There are a variety of ways we can support our mental health: support groups, therapy, medication management are just a few.

Services include Individual counseling, Group counseling, Health Services, Therapy Assistance Online (TAO) Modules, Eight Dimensions of Wellness, Case Management, and Crisis Management.

The Center for Health and Well-being has three Licensed Professional Counselors and one Licensed Alcohol Drug Counselor on staff.

All Counseling Services on campus are FREE for currently enrolled students.

There is not a specific number of sessions. The counselor and student will customize treatment goals.

Mental health is a person's overall emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how a person thinks, feels, and acts, and is important at every stage of life. 

• Feeling sad or down
• Confused thinking or reduced ability to concentrate.
• Excessive fears or worries, or extreme feelings of guilt
• Extreme mood changes of highs and lows
• Withdrawal from friends and activities
• Significant tiredness, low energy or problems sleeping.
• Detachment from reality (delusions), paranoia or hallucinations
• Inability to cope with daily problems or stress.
• Trouble understanding and relating to situations and to people.
• Problems with alcohol or drug use
• Major changes in eating habits
• Sex drive changes
• Excessive anger, hostility, or violence
• Suicidal thinking

Depression, anxiety disorders (including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, phobias, social anxiety disorder, performance anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), major panic disorder, major post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and borderline personality disorder (BPD).

Encourage the student to reach out to the Center for Health and Well-being. The professor can walk them to the office or call the Center for Health and Well-being (580)-774-3776, and our staff will come to your office to assist.

Immediately make a referral to the Center for Health and Well-being, walk them to our office, or you can call the Center for Health and Well-being (580)-774-3776, and our staff will come to your office to assist.

If you have a concern about a student on campus, go to the Dean of Students website and click on the “Student of Concern” button located under the “Need to File a Report?” section and submit the concerning information. These submissions are managed immediately.

You can also call Counseling Services (580)-774-3776, and our counselors can reach out to the students.

The most important thing is to talk to someone you trust. This might be a friend, colleague, or family member. In addition to talking to someone, it may be useful to find out more information about what you are experiencing. These things may help to get some perspective on what you are experiencing and be the start of getting help.

Faculty and staff can contact the SWOSU Human Resources Department and gain information about the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through our benefits. These services can provide free counseling services to faculty and staff at the location of their choice. Faculty and staff can contact HR at 580-774-3275 or email carol.sides@swosu.edu.

This may depend on your relationship with them. Gently encouraging someone to seek appropriate support would be helpful to start with. Encourage them to get the needed support. You can contact the Center for Health and Well-being, and we can reach out to them.

Anxiety is a feeling that can naturally arise in response to a stressful situation, although it can become a struggle if it persists after the situation has been resolved.

When you are feeling anxious or scared, your body releases stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. This can be helpful in some situations, but it might also cause physical symptoms such as an increased heart rate and increased sweating. In some people, it might cause a panic attack.

Depression can be characterized by few symptoms, the main one being low mood that persists for a long time in a way that affects everyday life. Depression is a serious mental health condition that can cause a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest in activities. It can affect how a person feels, thinks, and manages daily activities.

The Resource Packet provided has multiple locations students can receive services for food insecurities. It also includes a variety of locations on campus and in the community providing free meals to students. Students may attend the SWOSU Bulldog Food and Resource Center located in the Wellness Center on Monday and Friday 8:00-12:00 pm or Wednesday 1:00-4:00 pm. They can also visit Connections Food and Resource Center Monday 2:00-6:00 pm, and Tuesday and Thursday 10:00-2:00 pm located at 122 S. 8^th Street, Weatherford, Oklahoma.

Check the Resource Packet for transportation options in the Weatherford community.