Psychiatric Care
FAQs about Psychiatric Care
How do I schedule my psychiatric appointment?
To schedule an initial appointment call the Student Health Center, call 202.885.3380. You will be asked a series of questions about prior psychiatric treatment. An initial psychiatric appointment is an hour in length. Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment
What should I bring with me for my first visit?
To make the most of your initial psychiatric appointment please bring with you the names and contact information for any mental health care providers you have recently seen and the names and dosage of medications you have been prescribed. If you have recently been seen by a mental health care provider, you will be asked to fill out a release of information form so the Student Health Center can request your medical records from your previous provider. If you have copies of your medical records, please bring them with you.
What happens if there is an emergency after hours?
After hours mental health care emergencies are handled by the Counseling Center.
On campus residents who feel they are experiencing an emergency that represents a threat to safety or life should contact AU’s Department of Public Safety at 202.885.3636. Public Safety will contact a Counseling Center Counselor for an emergency consultation.
Students who live off campus and feel they are experiencing an emergency that represents a threat to safety or life should contact their emergency response services, dial 911, or proceed to the nearest hospital emergency room.
Are my visit and records confidential?
All medical records are treated as confidential information under applicable federal and state laws as well as university policies.
What happens if I can’t afford psychiatric care?
If you cannot afford psychiatric care, please call the Student Health Center and schedule a meeting with the Business Manager to discuss payment plan options.
I am currently taking medication for ADD of ADHD. How can I get my prescription filled at the Student Health Center?
In order to obtain your prescription for ADD or ADHD medication from the Student Health Center you are required to submit documentation of testing and treatment to the SHC psychiatrist in advance. After the psychiatrist reviews your documentation, a SHC staff member will call you to schedule an appointment. Please review the Documentation Guidelines for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder section of our website for more information on the required documentation.
I am currently taking psychiatric medication and all I need is a refill. Can I do that at the Student Health Center?
If you are currently taking psychiatric medications and need a refill you will need to schedule an initial appointment with the psychiatrist. The psychiatrist will determine based on your medical history if your prescription can be obtained from a medical provider in the Student Health Center, from the Student Health Center psychiatrist, or if you will be referred to a psychiatrist in the community for on-going treatment.
To schedule an initial appointment call the Student Health Center, call 202.885.3380. You will be asked a series of questions about prior psychiatric treatment. An initial psychiatric appointment is an hour in length. Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment
What should I bring with me for my first visit?
To make the most of your initial psychiatric appointment please bring with you the names and contact information for any mental health care providers you have recently seen and the names and dosage of medications you have been prescribed. If you have recently been seen by a mental health care provider, you will be asked to fill out a release of information form so the Student Health Center can request your medical records from your previous provider. If you have copies of your medical records, please bring them with you.
What happens if there is an emergency after hours?
After hours mental health care emergencies are handled by the Counseling Center.
On campus residents who feel they are experiencing an emergency that represents a threat to safety or life should contact AU’s Department of Public Safety at 202.885.3636. Public Safety will contact a Counseling Center Counselor for an emergency consultation.
Students who live off campus and feel they are experiencing an emergency that represents a threat to safety or life should contact their emergency response services, dial 911, or proceed to the nearest hospital emergency room.
Are my visit and records confidential?
All medical records are treated as confidential information under applicable federal and state laws as well as university policies.
What happens if I can’t afford psychiatric care?
If you cannot afford psychiatric care, please call the Student Health Center and schedule a meeting with the Business Manager to discuss payment plan options.
I am currently taking medication for ADD of ADHD. How can I get my prescription filled at the Student Health Center?
In order to obtain your prescription for ADD or ADHD medication from the Student Health Center you are required to submit documentation of testing and treatment to the SHC psychiatrist in advance. After the psychiatrist reviews your documentation, a SHC staff member will call you to schedule an appointment. Please review the Documentation Guidelines for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder section of our website for more information on the required documentation.
I am currently taking psychiatric medication and all I need is a refill. Can I do that at the Student Health Center?
If you are currently taking psychiatric medications and need a refill you will need to schedule an initial appointment with the psychiatrist. The psychiatrist will determine based on your medical history if your prescription can be obtained from a medical provider in the Student Health Center, from the Student Health Center psychiatrist, or if you will be referred to a psychiatrist in the community for on-going treatment.
