Psychiatric Services

Student mental health issues are not uncommon given the stress students experience while in medical and pharmacy school.  Mental health issues may develop while the student is in school or they may be issues that a student starts school already aware of and for which treatment has already begun.

When a mental health issue becomes apparent while a student is in counseling, the Personal Advisor may discuss a referral to a psychiatrist with the student.  The benefits of a psychiatric consultation along with any student concern about such a consultation will be thoroughly discussed until an agreement is reached.  If indicated and with the student’s written permission, the Personal Advisor can coordinate a psychiatric referral for the student, checking with the student’s health insurance coverage.     

The clinical roster for student referrals includes psychiatrists in northeastern Ohio. Referrals for psychiatric services by the Personal Advisor will include those psychiatrists who are on the clinical roster whenever possible as these are physicians who have agreed to see NEOUCOM and NEOUCOP students. 

Emergency Services

Students who require emergency counseling services during business hours should be directed to the Office of Career Development & Advsiing.  The Personal Advisor will provide counseling services to students who have concerns that require immediate attention. 

Situations that require immediate attention include those where the student is:

• severely depressed (may talk about suicide or attempting to harm self or others, says life is not worth living, feels hopeless and/or helpless);
• experiencing panic attacks (extreme feelings of anxiety, has trouble breathing or has shortness of breathe, tightness in the chest and/or head, thinks that he/she is going to die);
• a victim of sexual abuse, assault or rape;
• actively abusing substances such as alcohol or non-prescription drugs.

Students and faculty, staff, classmates and family members of students are encouraged to contact the Personal Advisor if aware that a student is in need of emergency counseling services. 

Akron 

Canton
Sami Zaidi, M.D. (330) 452-7694
asaidi@neo.rr.com 

Youngstown                
Pradeep Mathur, MD    (330)884-1901 or (330) 841-1600

Elizabeth Finley-Belgard, MD (330) 782-2438 

During evenings or weekends, the student and his or her family are encouraged to contact one of the following individuals for immediate assistance:

• Joseph Varley, M.D. (330) 379-5906
• Jeffrey Moore, MD   (330) 344-6525

Or report to the emergency room at one of the following consortium hospitals:

• Akron City Hospital/Summa
• Akron General Hospital
• St Thomas Hospital/Summa
• Aultman Hospital, Canton, Ohio
• Forum Health, Youngstown, Ohio 

Additional Mental Health Services in the area Include: 

Community       Name of 24 Hour Crisis     Telephone Number

Akron              Portage Path Community Mental Health Center

                        (330) 434-9144                    (330) 762-6110

Canton           Crisis Intervention Cntr of Stark County            

                       (330) 452-6001                   1 (800) 956-6630

Kent/                Emergency Prescreen Services          (330) 296-3555

Ravenna           (Coleman Wellness Solutions)           (877) 796-3555

Kent                 Town Hall II                                      (330)678-4357

                                                                                 (800) 296-3255

Youngstown     Help Hotline Crisis Center                  (330) 747-2696

                                                                                   (330) 424-7767

                                                                                   (800) 344-5818

Anywhere         National Hopeline Network            1   (800) 784-2433