Viveca Stucke ‘26
Chief Features Editor
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is excited to introduce a new mental health resource that is designed to expand access and provide additional support for students during times of need! Oasis is a new, free mental health app offering same day counseling sessions and on demand self help content that will support students whenever and wherever they need it most.
Oasis offers a variety of key features to support your mental well being. The app provides access to over 200 articles and videos that are available 24/7, with resources that cater to your individual needs. You can personalize content with advice, exercises, and tips tailored to your preferences. Oasis also includes guided meditation, relaxation, and mindfulness exercises that are designed to reduce stress and help enhance mental clarity. Additionally, students can track their mood and emotional well being through the app’s mood monitoring feature. One of Oasis’ most important features is Support Counseling, allowing students to schedule same day appointments for one on one confidential conversations with a trained Support Counselor.
Through Support Counseling, students can explore a variety of tools and resources designed to help them manage their mental health. By practicing effective exercises, students can build strategies to help maintain their mental well being, reduce stress, and work to promote their own happiness. This counseling is adaptable to many situations, whether you are navigating a breakup, managing anxiety related to your family and homelife, or feeling completely overwhelmed by your schoolwork. With availability from noon to 3:00am, this support service offers students flexible access to assistance whenever they need it most.
Unlike CAPS, Oasis is not a clinical mental health treatment but a valuable supplemental resource accessible via an app on your phone or computer. While CAPS operate Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to noon and 1:00pm to 5:00pm, Oasis is available 24/7, offering text support chats with professionally trained counselors. Through Oasis, students can explore personalized learning oaths featuring clinically approved articles and videos, track their mood with journaling options, and receive tailored recommendations to help manage their emotional well being.
Oasis is designed to offer convenient, confidential, and immediate support to students, aiming to help reduce stress and promote growth in students by addressing their individual needs. By understanding these needs, Holy Cross can help Oasis tailor the available tools and resources, ensuring that students have access to what best supports their well being. Only HIPAA trained Oasis staff and self school administrators can have access to student data, which further works to ensure their privacy. However, if a student is identified as a risk to themselves or others, they will be referred to appropriate crisis resources at Holy Cross through Oasis Crisis Connect, which ensures a wide range of support, whether in person or by the phone.
In a stressful academic environment like Holy Cross, resources like Oasis are essential for supporting students in managing their stress and working to maintain their mental health. The pressures of coursework, extracurricular activities, and personal challenges can weigh very heavily on the shoulders of students, affecting their well being, which makes access to mental health more important than ever. By offering on demand support, Oasis helps students navigate these challenges, promoting emotional stability for a healthier campus culture. These resources ensure that students can access the help that they need, when they need it, creating a safety net that fosters both individual well being and a more supportive community on campus.
Featured image courtesy of Oasis Connect
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