Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH) and Georgian Court University (GCU) have formally signed a psychiatric care collaborative agreement during a ceremonial signing at Ocean University Medical Center, expanding student access to psychiatric services and strengthening on-campus mental health support.
College campuses nationwide are experiencing increased demand for mental health services, driven by post-pandemic stressors, rising anxiety, and depression among young adults. According to the American College Health Association, more than 75 percent of college students report moderate to severe psychological distress, with anxiety and depression among the most commonly reported concerns.
This collaboration responds to those challenges by integrating health system-based psychiatric care into Georgian Court University’s existing student framework, helping students access timely care with greater continuity and coordination. Through the partnership, students receiving services through the GCU counseling center may be referred for psychiatric care, helping reduce barriers related to access, insurance coverage, and privacy. Services are offered during the academic year as part of an ongoing partnership.
Eligible students can access psychiatric care from Dr. Shirmela Rambally, an attending adult and child psychiatrist with Hackensack Meridian Health. Students may choose to meet in person at Jackson Health Village or virtually through HMH’s appointment platform, making care more accessible and easier to fit into their schedules.
“Recent data indicates that more than 40 percent of college students report feeling so depressed at some point that it was difficult to function,” said Kenneth Esser, Executive Vice President of Behavioral Health, Hackensack Meridian Health. “By meeting students where they are, both physically and emotionally, we are helping to remove barriers that too often stand between young people and care.”
“This new psychiatric care partnership responds directly to the growing mental health needs of today’s college students,” said Dr. Eugene J. Cornacchia, Interim President of Georgian Court University. “By connecting Hackensack Meridian Health’s clinical expertise with Georgian Court’s counseling services, we are improving continuity of care and reducing barriers related to access, scheduling, and insurance.”
The collaboration builds on Georgian Court’s existing mental health support framework and reflects a shared commitment to coordinating care across academic and clinical settings.
“By connecting students to timely, specialized psychiatric care and coordinating closely with campus counseling services, we are helping ensure students receive comprehensive, high-quality support when they need it most,” said Dr. Teri Wurmser, Dean of Hackensack Meridian Health School of Nursing and Wellness at Georgian Court University.
Students say the new partnership makes accessing psychiatric care feel more connected, supportive, and manageable.
“As a full-time student-athlete, balancing academics and athletics can be stressful,” said Yaseen Mouffok, a Georgian Court University undergraduate student. “Knowing that psychiatric care is accessible through this collaboration is reassuring and helps me stay focused on both my well-being and my success as a student.”
The agreement brings Hackensack Meridian Health and Georgian Court University together to expand access to psychiatric care and strengthen support for students.
About Hackensack Meridian Health
We are a leading not-for-profit health care organization that is the largest, most comprehensive, and truly integrated health care network in New Jersey, offering a complete range of medical services, innovative research, and life-enhancing care. In addition to our 18 hospitals, we are home to more than 36,000 team members, 7,000 physicians, and 500+ patient care locations, including ambulatory care centers, surgery centers, home health services, long-term care and assisted living communities, ambulance services, lifesaving air medical transportation, urgent care centers, physician practice locations, and a fitness and wellness center.
