The University of Holy Cross (UHC) is offering free telecounseling to New Orleans area residents during the COVID-19 crisis. The phone-in counseling sessions are being offered Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. by calling 504-398-2168. Officials say they may expand the hours and add Friday hours based on demand. Residents can call during these hours to speak about their current mental issues, get tips to maintain sanity during social distancing and/or isolation, and talk about any long-term psychological effects from the COVID-19 crisis.
UHC’s Counseling Department is spearheading the communitywide offering. During the new age of social distancing and isolation, all counseling sessions are being conducted by UHC counseling staff, faculty, master students and doctoral students via HIPAA-compliant teleconferencing software.
The counseling sessions are offered free of charge to anyone who calls in – illustrating the university’s commitment to serving as a community caregiver.
“The University of Holy Cross and our founding Marianite nuns are still, after 104 years, committed to caring for our community and being a shining light in an ever-changing world,” said UHC President Dr. Stanton F. McNeely. “This free telecounseling program was set up very quickly by our Counseling Department to provide immediate and continuous access to those who may be struggling in these uncertain times.”
Anyone seeking to schedule a telecounseling appointment should call 504-398-2168 to schedule an appointment with the UHC Counseling Department between the hours of 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The free telecounseling phone line is not meant to be an emergency response line. Anyone experiencing a mental health emergency should call 911.
