Personalize Self-Serve Mental Health Resources

Counseling center staff use a form modeled off of a medical prescription pad to “prescribe” self-serve interventions—such as online modules, workshops, fitness or meditation classes—to students with low-risk mental health needs.

This simple method adds a personalized touch to self-serve resources, and feels more formal—both of which help promote student follow-through.

Many institutions have invested in a variety of self-serve mental health and well-being resources, but utilization lags. These resources often do not align with students’ expectations for individual therapy. Self-serve resources might not “look” like mental health supports, and they can feel generic or impersonal. Additionally, self-serve resources often lack structure and accountability.

Case study: George Washington University’s behavioral prescription (Bx)

George Washington University developed a Behavioral Prescription, or Bx, to help students recognize the broad spectrum of mental health supports. The Bx is a written form that is jointly completed by the student and clinician. It maps students’ concerns to specific treatment options, including self-serve and campus resources. The Bx ensures that students have a clear understanding of the spectrum of their treatment options and their personalized recommendations for next steps.

Why GWU’s Bx works

Use this template, modeled after George Washington University, to develop your own mental health recommendation mechanism to give students prescriptive guidance on self-serve and alternative interventions that can address their needs, with space to increase recommendation intensity as their needs evolve.