Mental Health Services

Student Mental Health Program

Confidential evaluation and management of all psychiatric conditions (e.g. depression, anxiety) is available through the student mental health service. 

All students meet with Dr. Richard Friedman, Director of the Student Mental Health service, for an initial intake evaluation. If psychiatric care is required, a psychiatrist is assigned for continued care. 

 If students do not need psychiatric care, but would benefit from ongoing therapy, they may be referred to non-MD therapists within the Student Mental Health service. Therapists trained in stress management, cognitive behavioral therapy and other modes of therapy are available as needed for students evaluated through the Student Mental Health Program. 

• A student must self-refer for the Student Mental Health program and request an appointment. 
• An appointment can be arranged by email: rafriedm@med.cornell.edu or phone: 212-746-5775; if leaving a voicemail please speak clearly and leave a callback number. A student does not need to state the reason for the appointment or any other confidential information in the request for an appointment.
• All visits with the psychiatrists and other therapists are covered under the Student Health Fee - there is no separate charge unless lab tests or imaging studies are ordered. This is analogous to the care students receive at the Student Health office.   
• Providers (MD and non-MD) have no student evaluation role within the medical college.
• Care is confidential and is not part of the student educational record.

Personal Counseling 

The Personal Counseling service will begin accepting requests for appointments on February 15, 2018.

Personal counseling service is available for students for non-medical issues. A non-MD therapist is available, by appointment, for non-urgent therapy sessions. To request an appointment please send an email including your name and contact information to counseling@med.cornell.edu. Students need not disclose the details of their concerns when requesting an appointment.

• This is not an emergency service and students should expect communication for an appointment during regular business hours Monday - Friday. Appointments will be available within one week of the request. 
• These sessions are covered under the Student Health Fee - there is no separate charge. 
• Care can be escalated to the physicians at the Student Mental Health service when needed.
• The counselor has no student evaluation role within the medical college.
• Care is confidential and is not part of the student educational record.