Nevada State University (Nevada State) celebrated the opening of its first mental health clinic on Thursday, October 31. The Psychoeducational Mental Health Clinic offers health evaluation services for students pre-K-12, or youth aged three to 21, helping to fill the need for mental health evaluation services across Southern Nevada. The grand opening event was attended by Nevada State faculty and staff, and community partners. Federal funding for this clinic was secured by U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen, and Congresswoman Susie Lee.
Since officially opening its doors on June 24, 2024, the clinic has already begun the intake process for 60 K-12 students and aims to complete 150 evaluations by September 2025. Through the collaborative efforts of the Nevada State Ed.S. School Psychology graduate training program and community professionals, the clinic will provide evaluations of mental health needs as well as supportive services to help clients identify and access local educational and therapeutic resources.
“Offering these evaluation services helps address a critical need in Southern Nevada and ensures students in our community can access the supports and services they need to be successful at home, at school, and in the community,” said Dr. DeRionne Pollard, President, Nevada State University. “Having a psychoeducational mental health clinic at Nevada State provides our students with real, clinical experience on campus while providing a much-needed community resource.”
“I’m pleased to join Nevada State University leadership, faculty, and staff today to celebrate Nevada State’s first mental health clinic, and I want to thank them for all they’re doing to provide young Nevadans the support they need,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “Mental health is just as important as physical health—that’s why I secured federal resources to help this clinic recruit and retain mental health professionals and get our communities quality services. I’ll keep fighting to make it as easy as possible for Nevadans to access affordable mental health care.”
“I spent two decades working with students to help them succeed in and out of the classroom. I’ve seen firsthand how providing a holistic approach to their mental health is one of the most important investments we can make in students’ success,” said Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03). “Now that I’m in Congress, I’m continuing that work by bringing back the federal dollars our educators and mental health care providers need. I look forward to seeing NSU put these funds to good use by caring for their students, families, and the surrounding community.”
The clinic offers psychoeducational evaluations to provide recommendations relative to special education eligibility and medically necessary diagnoses such as:
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ADHD
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Autism
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Developmental disabilities
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Emotional disorders
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Intellectual disabilities
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Learning disabilities
In 2020, Nevada State’s School of Education received a subgrant from the Nevada Department of Education to establish career pathways for school-based mental health providers. In 2022, Nevada State School of Education received a five-year $1,219,626 federal Mental Health Services Professional Demonstration Grant to fund the Ed.S. School Psychology graduate program. In 2023, Nevada State University received additional $1,337,000 funding from SAMHSA to start the Psychoeducational Mental Health Clinic. The purpose of the clinic is to serve as an educational training site for the Ed.S. School of Psychology graduate program and as a community resource for families seeking mental health services across Clark County.
To learn more about the Psychoeducational Mental Health Clinic at Nevada State University and the services being offered, visit https://nevadastate.edu/academics/soe/psychoeducational-mental-health-clinic.
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About Nevada State:
Nevada State University (Nevada State), a four-year, independently accredited public institution, is a member of the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE). Nevada State places a special emphasis on the advancement of a diverse and largely under-served student population. Located on a developing 500-acre campus in the foothills of Henderson, Nevada, the institution was established in 2002 and has recently adopted ‘University’ in its name. Nevada State emphasizes high-quality instruction, exemplary service, engaging learning experiences, and innovation in support of Nevada’s growing workforce needs. Nevada State offers more than 65 majors and minors and continues to expand its physical campus and reach to students across the state. Committed to fostering a personal learning environment, students are taught by faculty who serve as mentors and guides in classrooms with an average class size under 25 students. Nevada State serves more than 7,200 students and has over 8,500 alumni, each representing a broad array of cultural and economic backgrounds. For more information, visit https://nevadastate.edu.
Media Contact:
Joe Rajchel, Nevada State University
702-824-2482
Bridgette Menist, The Abbi Agency
775-323-2977
