AC Launches New Partnership for 24/7 Student Mental Health Support

Amarillo College is now offering TELUS Health as its new provider for teletherapy services. The new partnership accessible now expands access to free, 24/7 mental health for all AC students.

AC selected TELUS Health following a thorough review process that emphasized cost efficiency, accessibility, and alignment with the College’s mission to remove barriers to student success. The new service will save the College approximately $200,000 annually while offering enhanced support tailored to the needs of AC’s large nontraditional student population.

“This program is an extension and a supplement to the services that we provide here in the Counseling Center, and it serves a very unique role,” said Jerrod Hinders, AC’s coordinator of the Counseling Services. “Many of our students are balancing full-time jobs, part-time jobs, and family responsibilities. This program ensures they can still get the care they need when traditional office hours don’t fit their lives.”

During the 2024–25 academic year, AC’s Counseling Center served 423 unique students, a 36% increase from the prior year, and held more than 2,100 clinical appointments. This fall alone, the Center has seen an 45% increase in students seeking services compared to last year—underscoring the need for additional capacity and flexibility in care delivery.

“There’s a demand for mental health counseling on college campuses across the nation, and we’re seeing that same need here,” said Bob Austin, AC vice president for Enrollment Management. “Even with three counselors, we can only see so many students in a day. Telecounseling allows us to make support available to everyone without turning anyone away—and because TELUS Health is available 24/7, students can reach out anytime they need help.”

Key benefits of the new partnership include:

• 24/7 Access: Continuous, year-round availability of mental health professionals through the TELUS Health app.
• Flexible Connection: Students can connect with counselors by phone, video, text, or in-person.
• Unlimited Sessions: Treatment is based on individual needs rather than a session limit.
• Extended Hours: Provides evening and weekend appointment options beyond Counseling Center hours.
• Expanded Network: Adds 54 Texas Panhandle counselors and 380 online counselors to serve AC students.
• Local Engagement: Strengthens ties to the Panhandle community by partnering with local mental health providers.
• Broader Accessibility: Increases the variety of languages spoken by counselors and enhances cultural competency to better serve all students.
• Continuity of Care: Ensures long-term access by connecting students with counselors available after graduation or upon transfer to Texas Tech, West Texas A&M, or Texas A&M.
• Educational Resources: Offers psychoeducational and self-help materials to support student wellbeing.
• Cost Efficiency: Delivers significant annual savings while improving financial effectiveness for the College.

TELUS Health also allows for text-based communication, virtual face-to-face sessions, and opportunities to partner with local clinicians for in-person services, ensuring a combination of convenience and community connection.