Hours of Service
Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: Closed
Patient Eligibility
- University of Nebraska students from all campuses
Services Covered By Student Fees
- Psychiatric Medication Management services are not covered by student fees
Medication and Expert Care to Help You Manage Mental, Emotional and Behavioral Concerns
Our psychiatric providers offer evaluation, education, and medication management for a wide array of conditions, such as depression, anxiety, life stressors, eating disorders, ADD/ADHD, bipolar disorder, insomnia, schizophrenia and more.
If you would like to explore medication options in treating your mental health symptoms, please call 402.472.5000 to schedule an initial evaluation. For those who are unsure or do not want to take medication, we recommend scheduling a therapy appointment with Counseling and Psychological Services. Best practices show that therapy combined with medication management proves to have the most positive outcomes in treating mental health disorders.
Appointments
We provide psychiatric care Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To make an appointment, call 402-472-5000.
Cost
Psychiatric medication management visits are considered specialty appointments and are not covered by student fees. There are charges for each visit. To determine how much your visit will cost, we recommend contacting your health insurance provider for coverage information. Patients are responsible for any charges not covered by insurance.
Learn more about cost and insurance.
Please be advised, mental health appointments with a health center general medical provider are also not covered by student fees and will incur a charge.
Mental Health Prescriptions
The University Health Center pharmacy can fill orders for most mental health medications. Contact your psychiatric provider to transfer your prescriptions. If we do not have the medication in stock at our pharmacy, we can usually order it for you. We can also send your medications to the pharmacy of your choice.
Urgent Concerns
If you are having a problem with a psychiatric medication, call the health center at 402-472-5000. Follow the prompts if you are calling after hours. If your problem is urgent or involves serious side effects, call or go to the nearest emergency room. The nearest emergency room to campus is Bryan Medical Center West (2300 S 16th St).
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, call Counseling and Psychological Services at 402-472-7450 and follow the prompts. Help is available 24/7.
Meet Our Staff
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect during my first appointment with a psychiatric provider?
Your first appointment is scheduled for 60 minutes. Plan on being asked a lot of questions about your physical health (past or current illnesses, injuries or surgeries), social history (school, work, hobbies, relationships, gender identity, spiritual beliefs, drug/alcohol use, etc.) and mental health history (any treatment you may have received prior to this appointment).
At the end of the evaluation, the psychiatric provider will talk with you about your symptoms and possible diagnosis, go over your treatment options (which may or may not include medication), answer any questions you may have and schedule a return appointment.
What are follow-up appointments like?
After you’ve been established with one of our psychiatric providers, follow-up appointments are scheduled to see if your symptoms are improving, if any changes should be made and to address any additional questions or concerns you may have.
What happens if medical staff recommends medication, and I’m still unsure about it?
In many cases, if you are still unsure about a medication after the provider explains the benefits and risks, you can take time after the appointment to think about the medication and read more about it from information that the provider gives you. You can schedule a follow-up appointment after you have decided about the medication.
How much will it cost to get screened for medications?
This charge may vary. Please call 402.472.5000 and select the billing and insurance option to discuss the current cost with a staff member. The amount you pay is determined by your insurance plan. If you do not have health insurance and cannot afford medical care, you may be eligible to apply for the financial assistance program.
Will my parents find out that I’m taking mental health medications?
If you are 18 or older, parental permission is not required to receive mental health care, including psychiatry. If you are on your parents’ insurance plan, you may choose to pay cash for medications and/or visits instead of submitting them to insurance so that your parents do not receive an Explanation of Benefits.
How will University Health Center staff work with my CAPS therapist?
Students can fill out a release of information that gives consent to allow communication between their therapist and their medical provider.
What does the transfer process look like if I return home (out of the city/state) for breaks, etc.?
This is determined on a case-by-case basis. For most students who remain in Nebraska during summer and winter breaks, we can continue to provide in-person or telehealth provide care. For out-of-state patients, sometimes you will be asked to find a primary care provider or psychiatrist back home who can see you over break and provide medication. Other times, we may be able to give you refills of your medication to cover you over the break. Determining factors include recent medication changes, diagnoses, level of stability, etc.
I think I have ADD/ADHD, but I’ve never been diagnosed. Can you evaluate me?
Our psychiatric providers do not provide ADD/ADHD evaluations at this time. Our psychiatric providers can also provide you with community referrals if needed. Please be advised that, in most cases, ADD/ADHD medication will not be prescribed without a formal ADD/ADHD diagnosis. The decision will be up to your psychiatric provider and is made on a case-by-case basis.
What if I already have a psychiatric provider at home but would also like to see a health center psychiatric provider?
Our psychiatric team is more than willing to coordinate care with your psychiatric provider at home. Every effort is made to be sure the transitions between home and school are as seamless as possible.
What if I already have a psychiatric provider at home and all I need are my medication(s) refilled?
The best option is to have your psychiatric provider at home write a prescription that you can have refilled at the health center pharmacy. Our psychiatric team cannot refill medications without having an initial evaluation and routine follow-up appointments.
I heard that the University Health Center offers genetic testing. Is this true?
The genetic testing offered at the health center evaluates how well a person metabolizes various medications. It does not provide any information on ethnicity or medical conditions. The test can only be ordered by a medical provider and will require a full psychiatric evaluation if you have not already established care with one of our psychiatric providers. This test is not free and is not covered by most insurance companies. Please visit the Gene Sight website or talk with your psychiatric provider for more information.
Are there other resources for students with mental health concerns?
If you are feeling stressed or need to talk to someone, contact the experts at Counseling and Psychological Services. They provide free short-term counseling, group therapy and other options to help you manage your concerns.
The Office for Students with Disabilities can help if your condition leads to difficulties with your academic success. Accommodations may be available.