Medical Student Mental Health Program
Mental Health Emergency & Crisis Support
Use any of the following resources if you or a loved one is in a crisis or experiencing an emergency
Dial 911
Call or Text 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
U-M Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES) call 734-936-5900 or 734-996-4747
Crisis Text Line -A free 24/7 external support service available to members of the Michigan Medicine community. Michigan Medicine faculty, staff and learners can text ‘UMICH’ to 741741. HIPAA compliance policies do apply to using this service, and all text conversations are private and secure.
The Medical Student Mental Health Program (MSMHP) is a partnership of the University of Michigan Medical School,
Michigan Medicine Office of Counseling and Workplace Resilience, and the Michigan Medicine Department of Psychiatry
Learn more about us
We are a dedicated team that believes in human goodness and joy in life
We create a confidential and compassionate space in which you can be truly heard and honored
We accompany you in cultivating the resilience and coping resources that are essential for navigating the stressors and ongoing demands of a career in medicine
We support you in the exploration and development of meaning and purpose in your identity and career as a healing professional
We envision a community of learners who value and practice caring for self and others
Services Offered
Our confidential psychological care, referral services, and psychiatric care are offered at no cost and are designed to support you as you prepare to become a leader in medicine. To this end, we currently offer the following services:
Individual Therapy - 12 sessions per student per academic year
Urgent Therapeutic Support - a 30-minute acute need supportive conversation
Referral Services to Specialized Care in the Community
Psychoeducational & Reflection Seminars
Psychiatric Evaluation & Medication Management
Common Concerns
Medical students commonly seek care to address a variety of concerns including, but not limited to:
Adjusting to medical school, or other transitions/life changes
Managing stress
Processing difficult clinical experiences
Creating more fulfilling relationships
Exploring and clarifying identity
Gaining insight and awareness about emotions
Attending to feelings of depression, anxiety, loneliness, and isolation
Changing thought, feeling, and behavior patterns
Developing self-acceptance and self-compassion
Honoring grief and loss
Psychological Care Appointment Scheduling
We welcome receiving your phone call or email to learn more about our services or to schedule your first appointment. Your first appointment will be a level of care assessment during which we will start to clarify whether you are best served by a therapist in our program or in the community to ensure you receive the highest quality of care for your specific concerns.
Contact us at: 734.647.3902 or counseling@med.umich.edu
Appointments begin at 8 am and extend through the early evening
Currently, all appointments are held on Zoom
Your clinical therapy record is housed exclusively within the Office of Counseling and Workplace Resilience and is not part of your academic or medical record.
Psychiatry Services Appointment Scheduling
The psychiatry office is open Monday through Friday, 8am-5pm. Identify yourself as a medical student who would like to schedule an appointment. We will respond to your message as soon as possible.
Send an email to mentalhealthprogram@med.umich.edu
For emergencies and after-hours needs, call the Psychiatry ER
at 734-936-5900.
While psychiatry records of evaluation and treatment become part of your medical record, all medical records in the U-M Health System are confidential.
Campus Resources
Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS)
After-Hours Urgent Support
Offered to any UM student or any person concerned about a UM student
After business hours call 734-764-8312 (press 0)
CAPS After Hours is available on weekends, evenings, and holidays.
UWill provides students with access to a therapist of their choice via the mode of their choice - video, phone, chat or messaging. Teletherapy services are available during the day, as well as evenings, weekends, and holidays. UWill has licensed mental health professionals available in all 50 states and providers in many countries of the world.
The M-Home Peer Support Advocacy medical student group provides confidential, 24/7 support for medical students at all phases of the curriculum. Advocates are available by email or by pager.
Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center (SAPAC)
24-hour crisis line 734- 936-3333
Provides free and confidential crisis intervention, advocacy, and support for survivors of sexual assault, intimate partner violence, stalking and sexual harassment who are University of Michigan students, faculty and staff.
University Health Services (UHS)
UHS offers a variety of helpful mental health services. UHS primary care providers evaluate mental health concerns from a medical perspective, which may identify underlying causes and treatment opportunities.
For specialized care with issues such as eating disorders, body image, and sleep disorders.
**Specialty clinics require a referral from a UHS clinician.
For assistance with any of the following: how drinking or drug use may be impacting your life; how to cut back, quit, or use drugs or alcohol in a safer way; how a compulsive or recurring behavior might be causing a disruption in your life; how to find recovery support resources on campus and in the community.
UM Addiction Treatment Services (UMATS)
UMATS is staffed by psychiatrists, social workers and nurses who work together as a multidisciplinary team offering intensive outpatient programs for adults and adolescents.
Provides a free, holistic approach that optimizes wellness for student success via a collaborative, non-judgmental, confidential partnership with a coach.
Supports students who are in recovery from alcohol or other drug addiction, nurturing their sobriety so they can excel in college.
The University of Michigan provides a robust continuum of care that adapts to and supports the well-being and mental health of our entire community.
Community Resources
Psychology Today: Find a Therapist is one of the most comprehensive and regularly updated therapist databases online
Seeking support for your mental and emotional well-being is not weakness, it is an admission of humanness.
Meet the Psychological Care Team
Our Philosophy of Psychological Care:
MSMHP therapists prioritize an integrative approach that centers on evidence-based sciences, cultural humility, humanistic and positive psychology, family systems theory, organizational psychology, philosophies of compassion and forgiveness, and creating meaning and purpose in life.
Our Team:
Whitney J. Begeman, PsyD, LP, Director, Office of Counseling and Workplace Resilience
Nidaa Shaikh, PsyD, LP, Medical Student Mental Health Therapist
Danielle Zohrob, PsyD, LP, Medical Student Mental Health Therapist
Whitney Hagen, PhD, LP, Medical Student Mental Health Therapist
Victoria Guster-Brown, LMSW, Medical Student Mental Health Therapist (not pictured)
Rachel Colby, BA, Administrative Assistant Sr.
Meet the Psychiatric Services Team
Our Philosophy of Psychiatric Care:
MSMHP psychiatrists provide students with no-cost confidential psychiatric evaluations, evidence-based treatment, and referrals to both internal and community-based therapists and psychiatrists for long-term management if needed. All evaluations are done by faculty psychiatrists. We are committed to supporting our students’ mental health needs throughout their medical training.
Our Team:
Sarah Bommarito, M.D.
Laura Andersen, M.D., MPH
Laura Hirshbein, M.D., PhD
April Wesner, Administrative Specialist Associate