On a college campus, stress is undeniably part of the experience.
For many students, college is the first time they’ve lived on their own. Without proper coping skills, the adjustment can be overwhelming.
For those with mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, schizophrenia or eating disorders, the demands of college life may feel impossible.
At the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, mental health support is a priority, with resources available across campus to provide care and reinforce the message: You are not alone.
Dr. Jessi Gold (photo by UT System)
Dr. Jessi Gold, UT System chief wellness officer
Gold recalled the moment she sought help as an undergraduate.
Her friends and family noticed some changes—she was skipping classes, seemed more reserved, wasn’t spending as much time with her friends and, frankly, wore sweatpants a bit too often.
When she went to counseling, she was told she wasn’t “sick enough” to receive care on campus.
“I think it was just that I didn’t have the words for it and I didn’t really understand myself enough to advocate for myself,” Gold said.
Now, Gold is the chief wellness officer for the UT System, which includes responsibilities such as connecting campuses, supporting student wellness initiatives, addressing gaps in care and helping shape a culture where conversations about mental health are encouraged.
Outside that role, she is also an author, researcher, educator and national voice on mental health, serving as a storytelling advisor for MTV and a member of the Mental Health Council for Rare Beauty.
Her experience seeking help in college motivated her career path.
“I felt like the place that was my safe space landing wasn’t as good as it could have been,” she said. “I always thought, ‘Oh, I could do that better for people.’”
Gold added that her own experience continues to shape how she thinks about student well-being today.
“Understanding yourself is a huge thing. It takes time. I am still working on that,” she said. “It’s not something that you learn and you’re done and you never think about it again. Knowing what signs and symptoms are for you or knowing what normal emotions are for you versus something to be concerned about matters.”
Her advice to students is to start with small steps and not wait until things feel unmanageable.
“You really can’t go wrong walking into the Counseling Center,” she said. “It’s free, it’s confidential and it’s a place to figure out what’s going on and where to go from there.”
Dr. Corinne Webster is the director of the UTC Counseling Center (waiting room pictured in right photo).
Dr. Corinne Webster, director of the UTC Counseling Center
Webster came to her role after years as both a counselor and educator. She joined UTC in 2020 as an assistant professor in the Counselor Education Program before moving into the Counseling Center, where she oversees a staff focused on student support.
“Our bread and butter is individual counseling,” Webster said. “We also offer group therapy, crisis services, workshops and drop-in hours.
“No problem is too small or too big to deserve help. We’re here for you. The staff we have here are incredibly warm, empathetic and compassionate. They love being able to support students.”
A counselor is available every hour of the day for drop-in emergencies, and after-hours calls roll to a crisis line staffed by trained professionals.
“No matter what time of the day you call, you’re either going to get one of us or someone who can connect you to the right resource,” she said.
Despite steady demand, wait times are short.
“We can usually get you in within a week, and two weeks would be the longest,” Webster said. “We’re lucky to be fully staffed. If you schedule ahead of time, you’re going to get in quickly.”
She said many students struggle with feeling a sense of belonging, and group therapy and workshops can help them realize they’re not alone.
“It’s such a quick way to build belongingness and that connection of, ‘Oh, you struggle with this too,’ while being with a trained facilitator and group counselor,” she said. “You can come to our groups at any point. You don’t have to commit to doing it for a full semester. Come when you want to, when you’re able to and for as many as you would like.”
The Counseling Center is located in University Center Room 128. Students can schedule appointments by calling 423-425-4438. For after-hour emergencies, call 423-425-CARE (2273) or 911.
Tish Hubbard
Tish Hubbard, associate director for Student Outreach and Support (SOS)
Hubbard, along with her staff in SOS, knows that life can get unexpectedly difficult.
She joined UTC in 2016 doing case management and student care work after earning a graduate degree in clinical mental health counseling. She has spent years helping students navigate challenging situations.
“My job is to help students figure out how to navigate concerns, work within the system and find the resources to support them,” Hubbard said.
The SOS office, she said, can step in and notify faculty on a student’s behalf if they experience a serious event that keeps them from class.
“If students need to be out, they can fill out an online form,” she said. “It’s for those crisis events—a death in the family or a health concern.”
The SOS webpage also includes a “community member of concern” form, which exists for students, parents, staff or faculty who are concerned about another student. Reasons include but are not limited to self-harm behavior, dating violence, disturbing eating behaviors, excessive anxiety, housing insecurity, loss of a friend or family member, and suicidal ideation.
“Students can refer themselves or a member of the community,” Hubbard said. “Then one of our team members will reach out to students, typically in the form of an email. Sometimes we call or text students just to say, ‘Hey, we’re here. Please schedule with us.’
“If you need us today, you can come in today. If it’s urgent—homelessness, self-harm, safety concerns—we’ll get you in almost immediately. Even if you think you can handle this by yourself, the reason we exist on this campus is to help you. You’re the reason I have a paycheck and a job. When you have had that success, tell your friends about us and that’s where you can give back. You are not a burden.”
Hubbard wants students to know that SOS is not just an “absence excuse office.” It also exists to help connect students with basic needs. Scrappy’s Cupboard food pantry, the Student Emergency Fund, emergency technology loans and free period products are all SOS resources that help students during personal challenges.
“We are that third leg of the tripod,” she said. “You can stand on your own two feet, but sometimes you need extra support to stay balanced.”
SOS is currently located in University Center Room 399 but will temporarily relocate to the second floor (former bursar’s office space) during construction after fall break. Students can email sos@utc.edu or call 423-425-2299 to schedule an appointment.
Megan McKnight is the director of the Center for Wellbeing (lounge pictured in right photo).
Megan McKnight, director of the Center for Wellbeing
The Center for Wellbeing is where many go to start building healthier habits and connect with support.
McKnight came to UTC seven years ago after working in social work and mental health care in New York and Michigan. She first focused on sexual violence prevention and case management before becoming director in 2021.
“The Center for Wellbeing is focused on health promotion and a variety of well-being topics,” McKnight said. “We have everything from mental health to substance use to sleep and nutrition resources; all of these components that we know support student success. Our goal is really trying to get this information in front of students so they can take care of themselves, find balance and know when to reach out for more support.”
That work is visible everywhere on campus.
Each fall, the center kicks off with events like goat yoga, a popular event that “brings a lot of joy,” McKnight said.
In September, programming focuses on suicide prevention awareness and helping students recognize warning signs. During the darker winter months, the center lends out light therapy lamps and brings wellness activities into residence halls for students who might not feel like going out.
These are just some of the ways the center connects with campus. McKnight said the goal is to normalize tough conversations with students.
“We want to make sure that these are topics that we’re not shy to talk about and to name,” she said. “Part of that is programming and being more outward about this. We understand that for some students, they may experience suicidal ideation or have loved ones who’ve been impacted.
“We’re then able to move that message forward and say, ‘There are resources and help. There is hope. We’re here for you.’”
The Center for Wellbeing also offers health coaching, a one-on-one option for students who need help setting goals or managing stress but aren’t sure if they need counseling.
“Sometimes students are just unsure about what that even looks like and might be more open to having a conversation,” she said. “We might identify in that session that a referral to counseling might be appropriate. It’s about bridging that gap and being able to talk with students and helping them get there.”
Another option is Mocs Recovery, a peer-based support program for students navigating mental health or substance use challenges.
“A lot of our students will seek counseling and get their clinical support, but then pair that with finding peers through the Mocs Recovery Program, who they can talk to and grow with as they’re working on getting better or maintaining their recovery journey,” McKnight said.
McKnight urged students to look for Center for Wellbeing events around campus.
“We want to get this into students’ daily routines so they’re seeing us on campus, having these conversations and normalizing it,” she said.
Students can visit the Center for Wellbeing in University Center Room 350, which includes a lounge equipped with massage chairs and coloring books. To connect, email wellbeing@utc.edu, or find programs and updates on Instagram (@utc_wellbeing).
Matt Holzmacher (center) is the deputy chief of UTC Police.
Matt Holzmacher, deputy chief of UTC Police
When students think about mental health support, the police department might not be the first place that comes to mind.
Holzmacher, however, has spent nearly 15 years on campus and said his team is intentionally trained and ready to respond with care.
“We know that a lot of times mental health is not necessarily a police issue,” Holzmacher said. “But we’re here 24/7. Our dispatcher answers the phone around the clock, so we oftentimes become that referral agency for finding who can best serve that person.
“We’ve had officers intervene with students who were having some serious issues, and some who just needed a referral for someone to talk to.”
Holzmacher said help can take many forms, from getting someone to a mental health hospital or emergency room, to connecting them with a counselor or even helping with something as simple as car troubles.
Every UTC officer receives Critical Incident Team training, which means they are trained to handle situations with empathy and awareness. Holzmacher said part of building that culture starts with taking care of his own team.
“If we value the health and well-being of our employees and make that a priority, oftentimes they in turn value those people they serve,” he said. “We’ve tried to make sure our folks have regular check-ins and conversations. Police work has its own stressors, especially with shift work. Addressing that helps our officers show up better for students.”
The department also works to be approachable before there’s ever a crisis. If you see an officer strolling through the University Center, riding their patrol bike around campus or walking a “campus canine,” it is often to connect with students and to simply say “hi.”
“Community-related policing has always been a focus for us,” Holzmacher explained. “The valuable things we do are normally when we’re outside the car. We’ve had issues recently where police are rushing through an area and that causes alarm, but we want it to be more of a norm that seeing a police officer in the building doesn’t mean something is wrong.
“We want students to know we’re here for their safety and their success.”
The UTC Police Department is located in the Administrative Services Building at 400 Palmetto St. The department operates 24/7 and can be reached by calling 423-425-4357 (HELP) for non-emergencies or 911 for emergencies. In addition to patrols, officers are available to assist students with safety escorts, lost-and-found items and other campus services.
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