For many students, college represents new beginnings, new expectations, and new pressures. At Ohio State Lima, the Counseling and Consultation Services team, or LCCS, is working proactively to ensure students have the tools and support they need to manage stress, maintain their wellbeing and remain on a steady path toward academic success.
Established in 2009, LCCS provides a wide range of services that combine prevention, outreach and individualized care. This three-pronged approach allows the center to meet students where they are and intervene early, reducing the likelihood that challenges become barriers to learning.
Prevention – Reaching students before they reach a breaking point
Prevention is central to LCCS’s mission. The center leads several key initiatives designed to identify concerns early and equip students with practical tools to manage their mental health.
Each October, the campus hosts National Depression Screening Day, where students complete anonymous questionnaires related to common mental health concerns and may choose to speak with a therapist. The event typically reaches around 144 students, and each year approximately 20 percent of participants would benefit from services, with 55 percent of those choosing to schedule an appointment the same day.
These screenings help normalize mental health conversations and ensure that students experiencing emotional strain are identified quickly and connected to support.
Outreach – Building awareness, skills and community
Beyond clinical services, the center reaches an average of 400 students each semester through outreach programming. These events are intentionally designed to be approachable, engaging and skill building, making it easy for students to learn about wellness in a relaxed environment.
Popular outreach efforts include:
- the Student Wellness Fair
- the Out of the Darkness Campus Walk
- art therapy workshops
- involvement in campuswide events and first year programs.
Every outreach activity incorporates tangible skills that students can use long after graduation. From stress management and communication strategies to self-care routines and social emotional skills, each program quietly reinforces the habits that contribute to long term wellbeing.
“We started adding information about how the outreach program we are doing is helpful post college, and a lot of it is career oriented,” said Samantha Haudenschield, PsyD, licensed psychologist and coordinator of Lima Counseling and Consultation Services. “You are building soft skills and you are building self-care and coping, and you are building social interaction skills.”
These events also help students become familiar with counseling staff in informal settings, making it easier for them to seek help if they ever need it.
Individual Counseling – Personalized support for student success
LCCS provides approximately 100 psychotherapy sessions each semester, serving an average of 31 unique students. Students commonly seek support for anxiety, depression, academic difficulties and relationship challenges, although the range of concerns is broad and ever evolving.
Students receive up to 10 free counseling sessions per academic year, ensuring that cost is never a barrier to care. When students require specialized support beyond what campus services can provide, LCCS connects them with community providers and assists with next steps such as scheduling and insurance questions.
This seamless, student-centered approach helps ensure that no student faces their challenges alone.
A campus resource that grows with student needs
The center continues to explore future initiatives, including expanded services and navigational support, to better meet rising demand for mental health resources. As enrollment grows, so does the need for increased capacity, enhanced programming and accessible pathways to support.
LCCS remains committed to prevention, early intervention and holistic care, and community support plays a crucial role in sustaining and expanding these efforts.
Building a foundation for student success
To meet these rising needs, the Ohio State Lima Health, Wellness, and Recreation Fund (#315436) supports a range of critical services, from individual counseling to wellness programming and preventative outreach. These services help students build coping strategies, manage stress, navigate academic challenges and connect with campus resources.
Investing in student wellness ensures that every student has the support they need to thrive not only academically, but personally and professionally. Mental and physical wellbeing are essential foundations for success, and strengthening these supports helps create a campus environment where all students can feel safe, connected and capable of meeting their goals.
A community role in student wellbeing
As student needs continue to grow in both volume and complexity, community support becomes even more vital. Donor contributions directly enable the campus to expand clinical capacity, enhance programming and ensure that students in need are seen quickly and compassionately.
The Day of Giving provides an important opportunity for the community to rally around student wellness and make a meaningful difference in students’ daily lives.
Day of Giving Call to Action
Your gift to the Ohio State Lima Health, Wellness, and Recreation Fund (#315436) fuels counseling services, outreach programs, and wellness initiatives that support every student’s wellbeing.
- Early Giving Challenge, March 23 to April 11:
If 15 donors give to this fund, an additional $1,000 will be unlocked. - Day of Giving Power Hour, April 14, 3 to 5 p.m.:
If 5 donors contribute during this window, the fund unlocks another $1,500.
Every contribution, no matter the amount, moves these challenges closer to being unlocked and directly strengthens support for Ohio State Lima students.
Join us in empowering student wellness and student success. Your contribution makes an immediate impact.