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Mental Health

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You and your family have access to mental health and substance abuse care through the university's Faculty Staff Help Center and through your university-sponsored medical plan.

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 remotely: As of spring 2020, FSHC is operating remotely and providing appointments via secure videoconference. FSHC's four locations at Main Campus, SLAC and Stanford Redwood City are closed at this time, due to COVID-19. To make an appointment or get more information, visit helpcenter.stanford.edu.

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. 

Register for Meru Health

Brightline: Child and adolescent mental health support

In 2022, Stanford is partnering 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 beginning on the following dates:

  • Healthcare + Savings HDHP and ACA Basic HDHP: Jan. 1
  • Kaiser HMO, Trio and SHCA: Spring 2022

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 18 months 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

  1. Click the link by your plan to visit
    1. Healthcare + Savings or ACA Basic HDHP: hellobrightline.com/cardinal-signup
    2. Kaiser, SHCA, Trio: hellobrightline.com/stanford 
  2. Create an account and start exploring Brightline Connect.
  3. Answer a few questions to get the right care.
  4. Schedule your first appointment.

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.

Teladoc Mental Health Services
Some Stanford plans provide access to Teladoc for medical and mental health visits to be provided virtually. Read more about Teladoc.