UHCL Counseling Services offers new WellTrack app to promote students’ mental health

UHCL Counseling Services’ newest mental health resource is an interactive app available for students, staff and faculty. As of Sept. 1, Counseling Services offers WellTrack, a free tool designed to help students understand and track their stress, anxiety and depression.

Upon learning of the interactive self-therapy app, UHCL Counseling Services reached out to WellTrack earlier this year. After meeting with the company’s representatives, they determined the app would be a beneficial addition to the department’s resources.

“We decided to try to implement it here now because we received funding from the Student Fee Allocation Committee that decides how student service fees will be used,” said Cindy Cook, executive director of counseling, health and career services. “The product has a good reputation with counseling centers across the country that are using it, so we thought UHCL students would benefit as well.”

WellTrack is an online self-help therapy tool UHCL students can access through an app on their smartphone or computer. The app is free to the UHCL community and available on the App Store and Google Play. After downloading the app, students are able to create an account when registering with their UHCL email address. The app’s hands-on tools use aspects of cognitive-behavioral therapy to help users identify, understand and address issues they are having in their lives.

The company was founded seven years ago by Canadian psychologist Darren Piercey. WellTrack is currently used in more than 80 universities, and over 2 million students have access to it.

“The goal of WellTrack is to provide self-help mental wellness tools to assist students alleviate stress, anxiety and depression on campus,” said WellTrack Chief Technology Officer Jeremie Bourque.

WellTrack’s website states that nearly 50% of college students report being concerned about stress, anxiety and depression. The counselors at UHCL believe that this platform is a great way for students to access self-help therapy outside of standard office hours and even act as a supplement for in between sessions. All features are available 24/7, benefiting busy students with hectic schedules both on and off-campus.

The WellTrack app went live on campus the first of September and is already being used by dozens of students. Jason Boothe, psychologist/outreach coordinator in the Office of Counseling Services, said WellTrack might appeal to individuals who don’t necessarily need professional therapy but still want to stay in touch with their mental health.

The app has several innovative features, including “MoodCheck,” “Thought Diary” and “The Zen Room.” There are also quick assessments that provide students with immediate feedback on their levels of stress, anxiety and depression. Based on the test results, students will receive a customized suggestion based on which areas they indicate they need more support. The app encourages users to track their progress with “Mood Heatmap,” “Mood Indicator” and “Wellness Assessments.”

“The app also assists counselors connect with students and monitor their progress in a way that wouldn’t be possible otherwise because of a lack of resources,” Bourque said.

The data that WellTrack receives is confidential. Users can choose to share their information with counselors or remain anonymous. Boothe assures students that counselors are not able to see names or personal activity associated with these accounts. Even though the individual usage is confidential, UHCL counselors will be able to view data on how the student population is benefitting from WellTrack, as well as receive insights that reveal which issues are most prevalent on campus.

“So far, students are extremely receptive and eager to utilize the many tools available at their fingertips,” Boothe said.

At this time, the app is being mostly utilized by students who already partake in counseling services; however, the counseling staff are eager to advertise the new resource around campus. Boothe believes that the best way to spread awareness is word of mouth amongst students.

WellTrack headquarters is located in New Brunswick, Canada. The team is currently recovering from Hurricane Dorian, said Bourque, but the app is still running 24/7.