LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lightfully Behavioral Health, a leader in primary mental health treatment providing high-quality, evidence-based programming, today announced Lightfully U, a new clinical virtual service designed to support the more than 60 percent of college students who meet the criteria for at least one mental health condition. Created by Lightfully’s renowned team of mental health specialists, this new offering aims to broaden mental health care access to college students ages 18 - 25, through the company’s clinical expertise, deep compassion, and rigorous treatment plans with measurable results.
Between 2020 and 2022, the number of students that participated in counseling or therapy increased from 30 percent to 37 percent, the most significant increase since 2018. The average annual caseload for a typical full-time college counselor is about 120 students, with some centers averaging more than 300 students per counselor. Lightfully U aims to be a solution for today’s understaffed and burnt out college counselors through its Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (VIOP), which provides care for those with depression and other mood disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, trauma-related disorders, and symptoms of suicidality and self-harm behaviors.
“There is an undeniable mental health epidemic in the U.S., and for far too long students have been left out of the current treatment options,” said Andie Hollowell, Chief Growth Officer at Lightfully Behavioral Health. “A recent study found that the mental health of college students has been on a consistent decline, with an overall 135 percent increase in depression and 110 percent increase in anxiety. While the data is clear that mental health support on college campuses is crucial, their systems are not set up for the need. This is why we’ve developed a program specifically designed for students. Our goal is to take the worry out of accessing care on campuses by providing students with virtual treatment options to address their unique needs and schedules.”
Students urgently need mental health support. With Lightfully U’s VIOP, students now have a resource, beyond their campuses, offering access to life-changing mental health care. This program, which is as effective as treatment provided in-person with the advantage of convenience and privacy, includes primary and family therapy, a psychiatrist, group sessions, team meetings, experiential activities, and alumni support.
“The idea for Lightfully U came about as I was witnessing my daughter struggle to find the support she needed on her college campus. Due to the lack of resources, she ultimately had to come home for a year in order to access proper care,” said Jennifer Steiner, Co-Founder of Lightfully Behavioral Health. “It was at that moment I realized we needed to create a program for the students with nowhere to turn, which is why I am so thrilled to be launching Lightfully U. With this launch, we are furthering our mission of providing comprehensive and compassionate mental health care to anyone - at any life stage.”
Lightfully Behavioral Health is one of the first and only mental healthcare providers focused solely on primary mental health care: treating the whole person with clinical expertise, deep compassion, and a rigorous commitment to measurable results. Lightfully is a mental health community where everyone is seen, heard and valued as their authentic selves. To learn more about Lightfully Behavioral Health, visit www.lightfully.com.
About Lightfully Behavioral Health
Lightfully Behavioral Health is a leader in primary mental health treatment providing high-quality, evidenced-based programming with a full continuum of services to meet the needs of commercially insured clients. Our mission is to change lives, compassionately. We treat clients with a primary diagnosis of a mental health disorder in the following diagnostic categories: Mood disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Trauma-Related Disorders, and Personality Disorders. Lightfully is one of the first and only behavioral health organizations built around Process-Based Therapy, which is a clearly defined framework that delivers more personalized and holistic care. Our seasoned, all-female executive team brings over 70 years of experience and a proven track record of success in the mental health market. For more information, visit lightfully.com or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
