Georgia Southern University signs MOU with Coastal Harbor Behavioral Health to expand resources to students
Georgia Southern University and Coastal Harbor Behavioral Health have teamed up to ensure students who need more comprehensive mental health care can access resources beyond campus.
Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the Georgia Southern University Counseling Center and Coastal Harbor will collaborate to establish a framework for communication, referral procedures and ongoing coordination to support students and their care needs.
“This partnership is particularly beneficial for students because it expands access to care beyond what the Counseling Center alone can provide,” said Ty White, case manager for the Georgia Southern Counseling Center. “Coastal Harbor offers specialized and extended mental health services, which can be especially helpful for students needing longer-term or more intensive support. Additionally, collaboration between the Counseling Center and Coastal Harbor allows for smoother referrals, shared care coordination and improved overall support for student mental health and well-being.”
Under the MOU, the Counseling Center may refer students to Coastal Harbor for services such as inpatient treatment, crisis stabilization, psychiatric evaluation and other intensive behavioral health interventions when clinically indicated. Coastal Harbor agrees to provide timely assessment, communicate admission decisions and coordinate with the Counseling Center regarding continuity of care, discharge planning and follow-up recommendations.
“Both Coastal Harbor Behavioral Health and Georgia Southern’s Counseling Center are dedicated to breaking the stigma associated with mental health intervention and self-care,” said Sneha Patel, CEO of Coastal Harbor Health System. “The established MOU outlines best practices for both institutions once a student is referred to and/or elected to receive inpatient therapeutic care at Coastal Behavioral Health. The intention is to serve as a therapeutic blueprint upon discharge.”
This partnership also ensures a continuity of care should a student return to campus with additional needs, as it connects the on-campus and off-campus systems to reduce gaps in care.
The Georgia Southern University Counseling Center provides comprehensive mental health support to enrolled students through free, confidential counseling services and wellness programs. Services are designed to empower students to manage personal challenges, promote emotional resilience and support academic success. Counseling services are available at no additional cost to all enrolled Georgia Southern students aged 18 and older.