Emergency Support Services

Students in crisis or with an urgent need for assistance can be connected to emergency services on campus for intervention and support. Students experiencing an emergency do not need an appointment to access emergency services and should come into or call the Counseling Center (Humanities 150; 410-617-2273) for urgent support Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

The Counseling Center offers a range of emergency services to meet the scope of urgent needs experienced by students. Emergency sessions are aimed at assessing safety, providing support, exploring options, and preparing a plan for moving forward. These include:

Triage (assessing risk, reducing distress, and identifying recommendations) services are available with the emergency counselor for the following concerns:

• Recent suicide attempt or thoughts of suicide
• Recent thoughts of hurting yourself without planning to kill yourself (e.g., self-cutting, scratching, burning)
• Recent thoughts of harming someone else
• Concerned about the safety of another person (e.g., friend, roommate, family member, classmate)
• Recent attempted or completed sexual assault
• Recent domestic/dating violence or stalking
• Seeing or hearing things that others do not seem to hear or see
• Substance use that feels out of control (e.g., alcohol, marijuana, legal or illegal substances)
• Recent loss of a loved one

Students presenting to the Counseling Center with heightened distress may be connected with a counselor by phone for triage support. When this service is accessed within the Counseling Center, front desk staff will speak with the phone counselor to follow-up on scheduling recommendations, which may include having the student meet with an on-site emergency counselor, schedule an initial appointment, or schedule with their already established counselor. Students may also access the 24/7 Crisis Line on their own at any time by calling 410-617-5530.

Note: Students currently in treatment with an off-campus provider will be encouraged to contact that provider as part of their triage recommendations and/or to provide permission for the Counseling Center to coordinate care with their off-campus provider.

Relaxation Room and Relaxation Resources

Students experiencing anxiety, panic, or distress that is not emergency-related, may benefit from spending time in our Relaxation Room, prior to, after, or in lieu of meeting with a counselor. The Relaxation Room provides a calming space to engage in breathing exercises, grounding strategies, yoga, quiet reflection, prayer, and other relaxation strategies to reduce feelings of distress. 

Resource Connection

Students struggling with academics, roommates, financial concerns, among others, often connect first with the Counseling Center, but may also benefit from connection to additional campus resources.

Support Starts Here

For non-emergency concerns, Support Starts Here highlights a range of on-demand and live options to begin your wellness journey today.
 
*Note: The Counseling Center does not provide documentation or "excuse notes" for missed classes or assignments. Concerns related to missed classes or assignments should be addressed with the class professor or Office of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies. In addition, the Counseling Center does not provide documentation for emotional support animals or medical single bedrooms. 

After Hours (Weekdays after 5 p.m. and weekends)

Students experiencing a mental health crisis can contact an after-hours counselor by calling 410-617-5530 or seek assistance from Residence Life & Housing or Campus Police by calling 410-617-5911. Emergency services may also be reached by calling 911 or going to your nearest emergency room. You always get a live counselor, every single time after hours at 410-617-5530. But if call volume is high that means you might wait a few minutes for the next available counselor. Don’t hang up, your call is important and will be answered.

Other Emergency Options

Emergency Support Hotlines

• Grassroots Suicide Hotline: 410-531-6677
• Baltimore Crisis Response Suicide Hotline: 410-752-2272
• First Call for Help Hotline (English & Spanish): 1-800-492-0618
• Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988
• Crisis Text Line: Text START to 741-741
• Transgender Support Line: 877-565-8860
• International Help Center with Suicide Hotlines by Country

Local Emergency Support Providers

• Mercy Hospital (sexual assault): 410-332-9494
• Union Memorial Hospital: 410-554-2106
• GBMC Hospital: (sexual assault) 410-849-3323 (emergency department) 443-849-2000
• Sinai Hospital: 410-601-8800
• University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center: 410-337-1000
• Crisis Resources by State
• Sheppard Pratt Crisis Walk-in Clinic (offering in-person & virtual psychiatric triage services): 410-938-5302

Local Substance Abuse Resources

• Baltimore-area Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings and Resources
• Baltimore-area Narcotics Anonymous Meetings and Resources

Important Note: If you or a friend are in immediate serious crisis, please go to one of the local hospital emergency rooms for help or call 911.

For information on support following a community-wide crisis, view Critical Incident Response Services.

What feelings and thoughts are common when someone is in crisis?

Intense anger, sadness, anxiety, desperation, numbness, and hopelessness are all emotions commonly experienced during a crisis. Thinking can be confused, rushed or slowed, with a limited sense of one’s options, often along with an urgent sense that one must act.

Tips for Coping with Crisis

• Don't make hasty decisions;
• Avoid alcohol and drugs;
• Talk to family and friends;
• Ask for help and;
• Be patient with yourself.

Additional Resources

• REACT Online
• Relaxation resources
• Dealing with fear reactions
• Trauma
• Grief and Loss
• Self-Care