CHADRON – In response to increasing demand for mental health support, Chadron State College will offer a new virtual mental health service to students during the 2025-26 academic year.

The platform, TimelyCare, provides 24/7 access to licensed counselors, health coaching, and self-care tools for all CSC enrolled students.

The move follows a comprehensive review as part of CSC’s ongoing participation in JED Campus, a national initiative focused on improving mental health services on college campuses. The review, which began in Fall 2023, will continue through Spring 2025.

CSC Counseling and Health Services have seen a steady increase in usage over the past decade according to Dean of Students Austen Stephens.

“Faculty, staff, and coaches are also regularly helping students manage mental health concerns. With TimelyCare, students will have access to support anytime, anywhere—even on breaks or holidays,” Stephens said.

The TimelyCare app allows students to schedule up to nine 50-minute counseling appointments per academic year. One feature, TalkNow, connects students with a mental health professional in less than five minutes for immediate needs. The platform also includes on-demand yoga, meditation, self-care journeys, and a monitored peer community.

Students can browse provider profiles and select counselors based on specific attributes or areas of expertise. Appointments can be conducted by video, phone, or text/chat. In-person services will continue through CSC’s licensed student counselors.

The new virtual service is available at no direct cost to students. Funding was provided through a collaborative effort by CSC Student Senate and CSC’s administration. No student fees were used to cover the cost.

“Expanding access and helping students take a proactive approach to their mental health are our main priorities,” Stephens said. “We aim to reduce crises and hospitalizations.”

Stephens said CSC hopes to see at least 30 percent of its student body participate in the program. Usage trends and the impact on in-person services will help determine if the partnership will be renewed after the one-year pilot.

The platform was selected after 18 months of demos, virtual meetings, and an in-person site visit. Stephens said TimelyCare stood out for its quality of care and strong track record in higher education.

For more information, students are encouraged to visit CSC Counseling & Health Services or download the TimelyCare Health & Well-being app from the App Store or Google Play.

Goldstedt exhibit highlights rural Nebraska scenes

CHADRON – A new exhibit at the Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center showcases the work of self-taught painter John Goldstedt.

Born in Alliance and raised in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, Goldstedt, who now lives in rural Hemingford, captures rural scenes in acrylics. The exhibit opened July 14 and runs through Sept. 30. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m.

“I’m flattered, proud, and honored,” Goldstedt said, crediting Kelly Overshiner, a friend of his daughter and a custodian at Chadron State College, for organizing the show. “I owe it all to Kelly’s persistence. She loaded the pieces and set it up.”

His interest in painting began in 2016 after inheriting supplies from his mother, who once took a painting class at Chadron State College.

“One of my daughters made a sip-and-paint for me, so I made one for her,” he said. “I got a little better with each painting. It might take me four days to turn out what the experts do in three minutes on a video.”

Goldstedt graduated from Gordon High School in 1977. After serving in the military, he and his wife settled in Colorado, where they raised three daughters and a son. All four children graduated from Hemingford High School. Today, his grandchildren paint with him, and one wall of his home is dedicated to their work.

A retired Burlington Northern conductor, Goldstedt previously worked as a computer engineer for Hewlett-Packard, IBM, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Colorado. An avid traveler, he has visited 35 countries, including Antarctica, but still considers the Nebraska Sandhills home.