The Student Health Center continues its commitment to ensuring physical and mental health resources through its continued partnership with TimelyCare for this academic year and the introduction of Narcan.
TimelyCare is a nationwide organization promoting a plethora of 24/7 virtual care for universities around the United States. The 2024-25 academic year will mark the second year of the program’s introduction at Pepperdine, according to Doug Hurley, associate dean of Student Affairs.
“Students these days, this generation, you’re used to being able to access resources either through Zoom, a laptop or on an app,” Hurley said. “We’re just trying to keep up with the way the field is going.”
The TimelyCare app is available to all Pepperdine students who have paid the Pepperdine wellness fee, which is included in tuition. Students can download the app on the TimelyCare website or the app store compatible with their devices.
The wellness fee waives the cost for a wide variety of Pepperdine health services, including medical visits, therapy sessions and intramural sports, according to Student Affairs. The complete breakdown of the wellness fee can be found on the Pepperdine Thrive website.
The Wellness Fee covers a multitude of resources for Pepperdine students. Students can enjoy free therapy, RISE programs, intramural sports and more. Infographic by Shalom Montgomery
More than 60% of college students in the United States qualify to have at least one mental health issue, according to the National Education Association. This has created an emphasis on mental health resources throughout universities nationwide.
Hurley offers advice for any students who are hesitant to seek professional mental health.
“If you’re nervous about talking to a professional, that’s [TimelyCare’s] a good way to do it because you have control and it’s in your hand,” Hurley said. “It reduces the barriers for students [because] this is, for many, the first time they’re taking control over their health.”
Along with the improvements of TimelyCare, Pepperdine has introduced Narcan (naloxone) training for all RAs, Hurley said.
Narcan is an over-the-counter drug used to treat opioid overdoses rapidly. It clings to the opioid receptors in the brain and blocks the effects of opioids such as heroin, fentanyl and prescription painkillers. Pepperdine uses Narcan in a nasal spray form, although naloxone also comes as an injection.
“We’re doing it [Narcan training] because of fentanyl,” Hurley said. “We know that students might experiment, or they just might try something that they aren’t unaware of. And if you overdose on fentanyl, Narcan can save your life.”
College campuses have witnessed a significant rise in fentanyl overdoses in recent years, according to WBEZ Chicago. Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid and is often mixed into other drugs like cocaine, Adderall and counterfeit prescription pills, according to the DEA.
This has caused a sharp increase in unintentional overdoses among students accidentally ingesting fentanyl. The pandemic worsened the opioid crisis, contributing to a rise in overdose deaths among young adults, particularly on college campuses, according to University Business.
Pepperdine’s initiative comes after the recent passing of the Campus Opioid Safety Act (Senate Bill (SB) 367), which came into effect Jan. 1. This law requires every public college campus in California to provide students with opioid overdose education during orientation and distribute federally approved overdose reversal drugs like naloxone.
The Narcan training, hosted at the L.A. County Public Health Center, was given to all resident advisors and any student leaders interested during the fall semester, Hurley said. They learned about the science behind opioid overdoses and how to properly administer Narcan.
Hurley explains that the overall goal of these new health advancements is to empower students.
“I think when we put resources in your hands… we want you to know you have a lot of great resources at your disposal,” Hurley said. “We want you to feel competent to use them.”
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Contact Shalom Montgomery via email: shalom.montgomery@pepperdine.edu
