Psychiatric Services
The Student Health Center (SHC) provides short-term psychiatric treatment and referral services to GW students. Services are provided primarily by telemedicine. Undergraduate, graduate, and professional students who are actively enrolled in at least one course are eligible for psychiatric services. The psychiatrists and counselors in the SHC work closely together to provide mental health services for students.
Our psychiatrists are available by appointment only. To get connected, students should call the Psychiatric Case Manager at (202) 994-1621 or email shs
gwu [dot] edu (shs[at]gwu[dot]edu) for any questions regarding our psychiatric services and to schedule their intake appointment to start the care process.
What To Expect
After contacting the Psychiatric Case Manager and completing a brief 30-min intake appointment, students will either be scheduled for an initial evaluation with a SHC psychiatrist or referred to a higher level of care, if appropriate.
For their initial evaluation with a SHC psychiatrist, students should plan to check in 30 minutes prior to their scheduled appointment to allow adequate time to complete required symptom surveys. Once the surveys are completed and reviewed, you will meet with your psychiatrist. The SHC psychiatrist will conduct a comprehensive psychiatric assessment and provide diagnostic and treatment recommendations for up to 90 minutes. When clinically indicated, medications may be prescribed. Because our services are short-term, students are typically referred to community clinicians for ongoing care.
Prescriptions
Prescription refills are provided only for students who have been previously evaluated by a SHC psychiatrist or after completion of an initial psychiatric evaluation. Students requesting refills must contact the Psychiatric Case Manager to schedule a follow-up or initial appointment before refills can be authorized. Refills are intended to last until the next follow-up visit. Additional refills may be provided if clinically indicated.
Students prescribed DEA-controlled substances, such as ADHD stimulants, are required to provide documentation of prior diagnosis and treatment before these medications can be prescribed or refilled. Please refer to the ADD/ADHD services information page for specific documentation requirements.
References for Psychiatric Good Reads