During the pandemic many students at colleges and universities are facing more mental health issues than normal.
Normally students are able to receive counseling sessions for free through their schools mental health centers, and now sessions are done remotely through video streaming while students stay at home.
But due to practicing laws, mental health professionals are not allowed to give remote services to anyone currently residing out of the state.
Kate Dye, the West Virginia University Student Body President says that because of these laws, out-of-state students will face greater hurdles when trying to access their school’s mental health resources.
“There are restrictions. Out-of-state students are currently not able to use those resources because of practicing laws. So our counselors, they’re not allowed to practice out of state lines. I think that’s a huge hurdle during this time because half of our student body are out-of-state students,” Dye said.
Many student governments across the nation are petitioning Congress to temporarily suspend laws relating to out-of-state practice for university mental health services.
