SDCCD expands mental health resources through TimelyCare

October 6, 2025 | San Diego Community College District
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San Diego Community College District has partnered with TimelyCare to offer students free and equitable access to mental health support, medical care, and basic needs assistance. 

The partnership is an extension of existing campus health centers — at San Diego City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges — and districtwide counseling resources including at San Diego College of Continuing Education, with a goal of improving student well-being, engagement, and retention.   
 
The need for 24/7 access to high-quality care has never been more important. According to the American Council on Education, student mental health is the top concern of college and university presidents. It’s also the number one reason students leave college. A recent report by Gallup and the Lumina Foundation found that 69% of students in bachelor’s degree programs who considered dropping out cited emotional stress as their reason.  
 
Through TimelyCare on their phone or other device, all SDCCD students can now select from a wide-ranging menu of virtual care options from licensed physicians and counselors in all 50 states — at no cost and without the barrier of traditional insurance – including:

  • On-demand and appointment-based medical care
  • On-demand mental health and emotional support
  • Basic Needs assistance
  • Care navigation
  • Peer support community
  • Digital self-care content

The partnership with TimelyCare creates a hybrid model of care that expands on-campus resources.

“Supporting our students’ mental health isn’t optional; it’s part of our responsibility,” said Vice Chancellor of Educational Services Susan Topham. “Through TimelyCare, we’re ensuring students can get help when and where they need it. By expanding access, we’re breaking down barriers so every student in our district has the tools to succeed both in the classroom and in life.” 
 
Students can benefit from:

  • Convenient 24/7 access: Physical and mental health needs often arise outside regular business hours. In fact, more than 40% of TimelyCare’s mental health visits occur on evenings or weekends. Students can typically connect with a provider in less than five minutes.
  • Culturally responsive providers: More than half of TimelyCare’s mental health professionals identify as people of color, and the network includes LGBTQIA+ providers, multilingual services, and translation in over 240 languages.
  • Safe, seamless support: The platform is HIPAA-compliant, URAC-accredited, and coordinated with campus protocols to ensure continuity of care.

Three-quarters (75%) of college students who accessed virtual mental health and well-being interventions through TimelyCare reported mental health improvements, including 100% of those who presented as a potential suicide risk. More than half (53%) of all students who have sought mental health support through TimelyCare said they would have done nothing if the service were not available.  

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