Those waiting times have been longer in the past. In 2019, for example, there were months when students had to wait no less than four weeks before seeing someone. Back then, they made an appointment, after which an intake of an hour followed.
“Often, it appeared that we couldn’t help them and so had to refer them on to, for example, an Area Health Authority psychologist,” says Vancauwenbergh. “Or, on the other hand, that one of the workshops or training by the Student Service Centre would have been sufficient. We have expanded these considerably the past few years.”
The solution to shortening waiting times? Ten-minute chats in which students explain what their problem is and receiving immediate advice. That advice can be a referral to an external partner or a stress management workshop, for example. “Treatment by a psychologist is not always necessary.”