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Psychological Emergencies
An emergency is a situation in which a student is feeling desperate, hopeless, very disoriented, and/or out of control (and perhaps in danger of harming himself/herself or someone else).
The following situations represent CLEAR psychological emergencies:
A Student has made a suicide attempt
- Call 911 to request the appropriate emergency medical response
- Notify Campus Security of the situation at x3537
- Contact the Counseling Center at x3456
A Student is violent (e.g., is assaulting someone or destroying property) and/or a Student has made a direct, serious, and believable threat to harm others
- Call 911 to request the appropriate emergency medical response
- Notify Campus Security of the situation at x3537
- Contact the Counseling Center at x3456
A Student has stated the intent to commit suicide is very disruptive, disoriented, incoherent, or behaving bizarrely
- Contact the Counseling Center x3456. If there is no answer please call x3207 or x3548.
- If you are with the individual please walk him or her to the Counseling Center (The Counseling Center is located in JB 358), or you may call us at x3456 and we will come to your location.
- Please feel free to interrupt one of the Counseling Center staff even if we are in session.
If you are unsure if a situation is an emergency, please contact the Counseling Center during Monday-Friday (9am – 5pm) (x3456) or after hours please contact Campus Security at x3537. We will be happy to talk with you about the situation.
Emergencies AFTER hours, on weekends, and on holidays
If you or someone you know is feeling hopeless or desperate, considering suicide, or thinking of harming someone else, please go to the nearest hospital emergency room immediately for help.
If you or someone you know appears disoriented (not making any sense) or unable to control his/her behavior should be taken (via emergency medical transport) to the nearest hospital emergency room for evaluation and assistance.
Find a responsible friend or adult to accompany you. If you do not believe you can safely get to the emergency room, please call 911 for safe transportation to the hospital.
To speak to a trained professional who can make referrals to local mental health services near you.you may call
- 1-800-LIFENET (1-800-543-3638),
- 1-877-298-3373 (Spanish)
- 1-877-990-8585 (Chinese)
To speak with a trained paraprofessional volunteers offer help on a variety of issues including depression, suicidal thoughts, grief, sexual issues and alcoholism call
- 212-673-3000 Samaritans of New York confidential 24-hour hotline
To speak with a trained paraprofessional volunteers listen to and talk to people who want to sort out a problem, to put their lives in perspective or who want to talk to a sympathetic person. Also assists people who are contemplating suicide call
- 212-532-2400 or 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) 24-hour hotline
Situations that can become a psychological emergency
The following situations represent possible emergencies or situations that could develop into emergencies. In these situations, it is important that you contact the Counseling Center for assistance as soon as possible.
- Extreme and uncontrollable emotional reactions (e.g., student cries uncontrollably and is unable to stop crying even after talking with you for a while)
- Loss of contact with reality (e.g., student seeing/hearing things not apparent to others, thoughts or behavior not consistent with reality, extremely paranoid thinking, grandiose or delusional beliefs, extreme confusion)
- Disturbed speech or communication (e.g., incoherent or illogical speech or e-mail; bizarre statements; disorganized, rambling, or excessive and rapid speech)
- Written work or drawings with hopeless, bizarre, paranoid, or threatening content
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