BisonCares — 24/7 mental health support options

We know you have a lot on your mind so we made accessing support easy so that you can choose an option that works best for you. The BisonCares program, powered by Uwill, offers Southwestern Law students a variety of free support options and tools designed to help you mentally and emotionally. Through our partnership with Uwill, students receive free immediate access to teletherapy, crisis support, and wellness.

Wherever you are, there’s someone you can trust as close as your phone, iPad, or laptop. BisonCares provides an immediate teletherapy appointment with a licensed counselor based on student needs and preferences. Choose a therapist based on immediacy, gender, language, and focus area, and select a time that works best, with day, evening, and weekend appointments. Students will receive up to six sessions per academic year.

Visit the Uwill website at app.uwill.com to create your profile and get started in minutes.

If a student is experiencing a mental health crisis, they have a direct connection to a licensed counselor trained in trauma through Uwill’s crisis support team.

Help is available 24/7/365 by calling 833.434.1217.

Southwestern students are also supported while outside of the United States. The international number is +1-984-268-2016.

If you are having a medical emergency, please call 911.

Through Uwill’s wellness education, students can access free on-demand wellness programming.  Topics include stress and anxiety, academic thriving, meditation, and more. 

Wellness videos can be accessed through the Uwill platform.

Confidentiality and Anonymity

Uwill is HIPAA and FERPA compliant, meaning it follows the strictest privacy guidelines. Uwill never shares your data—even on an anonymized basis—with Southwestern or any third party without your consent. The only exceptions to this confidentiality policy are if there is a report of harm to yourself or someone else, or if there is a court subpoena or court order.

Bison Cares and Southwestern Reporting

Bison Cares mental health counseling is provided through Uwill, an independent third-party service. Southwestern Law School does not receive any information identifying who uses Bison Cares services. Because Southwestern does not know who uses the service—and does not collect or retain this information—we do not, and cannot, report a student's use of Bison Cares to any state bar or licensing authority.

Mental Health and Bar Admission

Some state bar licensing authorities ask questions about an applicant’s mental health during the character and fitness review process. Typically, these questions focus on whether an applicant’s mental health condition currently impairs their ability to practice law competently, ethically, and professionally. In most jurisdictions, a history of seeking mental health treatment alone does not disqualify a person from bar admission.

Applicants are responsible for understanding the specific character and fitness requirements of the jurisdictions where they intend to apply for admission. For a summary of mental health-related questions by jurisdiction, students can consult resources compiled by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE). Students should always verify the current requirements directly with the relevant state bar admission authority, as policies can change.