Mental & Emotional Health
You and your family have access to mental and emotional health care, as well as substance abuse care, through the university's Faculty Staff Help Center and other benefits.
Faculty Staff Help Center
The Stanford Faculty Staff Help Center (FSHC) provides professional, confidential short-term counseling services for you and your family, up to 10 sessions, based on need. An assessment is conducted on the first visit to ensure that the FSHC is the correct resource for your issue(s). If you need more support than the FSHC can offer, the center will provide a referral to other services. FSHC is free to Stanford employees, retirees, and eligible dependents up to age 26.
The FSHC provides assistance with:
- Work issues
- Personal issues
- Substance abuse
- Career development
Serving the community: FSHC has locations at Stanford Campus, SLAC, and Stanford Redwood City. To make an appointment or get more information, visit helpcenter.stanford.edu.
SupportLinc: Employee Assistance Program for out-of-state employees
Stanford has partnered with an employee assistance program, SupportLinc, to provide employees living outside of California with services similar to the Faculty Staff Help Center. This is a confidential resource that helps you deal with life’s challenges and the demands that come with balancing home and work. SupportLinc provides confidential, professional referrals and up to ten (10) sessions of face-to-face counseling sessions for a wide variety of concerns, such as:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Marriage and Relationship Problems
- Grief and Loss
- Substance Abuse
- Anger Management
- Stress
- Financial Assistance
- Legal Assistance
- Family Assistance
To get started, visit SupportLinc.com or download the mobile application and click on “Create Account” and enter the group code “stanfordremote”
Questions? Call 1-888-881-LINC (5462)
SupportLinc Suicide Prevention Flyer
Meru Health: Free online mental wellness program for adults
Meru Health is a 12-week online program that will help you take steps to improve your mental well-being. The program is available for free to benefits-eligible employees and their adult dependents who are enrolled in a university medical plan, and is currently available to participants nationwide.
Meru Health offers you access to:
- Licensed therapists and psychiatrists
- Anonymous peer support
- A biofeedback device
- Mindfulness practices
- Habit-changing activities for sleep, nutrition and more
You can access the program from your mobile device, allowing customized access, any time and anywhere. The program is HIPAA compliant and the information provided to Meru Health will be kept confidential.
You can voluntarily enroll in this program at any time.
Brightline: Child and adolescent mental health support
Stanford partners with Brightline as an in-network provider for young child and adolescent mental health support for you and your enrolled dependent children under 18. If you are enrolled in a Stanford medical plan, you have access to Brightline.
We understand that the pandemic has created additional stress and hardship, and it has especially affected youth. In fact, one in five children have a diagnosed behavioral health need, and 80% are not getting the care they need. In partnering with Brightline, you have access to a wide range of options to help your family members find care that works for them.
Behavioral health solutions
Brightline is a comprehensive behavioral health solution specifically designed to support kids from birth to 17 years old, as well as their parents and caregivers, with a range of everyday challenges, such as managing anxiety, depression, behavior issues, ADHD and other common conditions. You and your family receive expert care and resources, including:
- Premium Connect+ membership: On-the-go access to personalized resources, interactive exercises, group classes and on-demand chat with your Brightline Coach
- Coaching: Skills-based programs led by expert behavioral health coaches to help kids and teens through everyday challenges in 30-minute sessions and as few as four weeks
- Care: Personalized care by video visit with child and adolescent psychologists, psychiatrists, speech therapists and others to help with conditions such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, disruptive behavior and more.
Sign up for Brightline
- Visit hellobrightline.com/stanford
- Create an account and start exploring Brightline Connect.
- Answer a few questions to get the right care.
- Schedule your first appointment.
*Brightline is an in-network provider for our three Aetna plans so normal copays and member cost share would apply as a normal network provider use.
Questions? Reach out to Brightline Member Support at 888-224-7332 or email care@hellobrightline.com.
Seek help through your medical plan
Mental health coverage is essential to you and your family’s overall wellness. Here is an explanation of how these services are covered by each plan, as well as other resources available to you.
- View Aetna's Parent guide for understanding teen suicide risk
- Aetna Mental Health Resources for Copay, Choice and ACA Health Plans.
Aetna Mind Companion Mental Health Resources - Kaiser provides coverage for outpatient services that are in-network only.
View Kaiser's Mental & Behavioral Health Resources