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In a Crisis? Need Help Now?

If immediate assistance is needed, especially if the situation is potentially life threatening call 911 or Campus Police at 704-687-2200.
 

For crises during office hours, students and concerned others can contact the Center for Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) in person (next to Student Health Center) or by phone (704‑687‑0311). Please let the receptionist know that the situation is urgent, and a counselor will be available to you as soon as possible. See information below about the nature of crisis walk-in services.

For after-hours phone consultations, call CAPS at 704-687-0311 to be connected to a counselor. CAPS utilizes ProtoCall, which provides free after-hours support. ProtoCall counselors can discuss your immediate needs, how to manage your current problem, and how to follow-up to get the assistance you need.

For other crises after hours, you may also contact appropriate residence hall personnel (if you are an on campus student) or the Campus Police (704‑687‑2200). In either case, they will discuss with you the options you have for getting assistance, which may include getting in touch with the counselor on-call or a referral to another resource in the community

Same day Crisis Services

 
Counselors are available to see students in crisis during each business day between 10-11:30 am and 1-4:30 pm.  Students are advised to call first, if possible, to hear options about the best time to arrive.  Students who are not in crisis should make an appointment to see a counselor, which will allow a full assessment of the problem and the development of an assistance plan.  Same-day appointments are often available. Rarely is there more than a two-week wait for a non-crisis initial appointment.  
 
The staff at CAPS is aware that emergencies requiring immediate attention can exist for students seeking our services. Our same-day crisis services are designed to assist students who are confronting life-threatening circumstances, current or recent traumatic crises, and significant psychological distress

Examples of such issues include:
 
  • thoughts about harming or killing yourself
  • thoughts about harming another person
  • recent assault or abuse
  • concern about your own safety
  • hallucinations or mania
  • recent death of a loved one or other significant loss
  • witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event
  • learning about another person being abused or assaulted
     

If you believe your situation is a crisis that cannot wait for a regularly scheduled appointment, please let us know.

What to expect:

Same-day crisis services: A counselor will meet with you to do an assessment of the circumstances surrounding your crisis, identify and implement strategies for dealing with the crisis, and make recommendations as to how to proceed. These sessions tend to be briefer than regular initial sessions. A follow-up appointment may be recommended. 

A regularly scheduled initial session:  A counselor will meet with you for approximately 45-50 minutes to do a thorough assessment of your counseling needs, help you develop a plan of action, and offer recommendations about how to proceed. Follow-up sessions may also be recommended. 

  

Important Crisis Resources

Live Safe
Live Safe app
  • A free app for iOS and Android devices
 
Suicide Prevention
 
Hope Line Network
 
Local Psychiatric Evaluations
(24 hours a day)
  • Carolinas Healthcare Behavioral Health
  • Billingsley Road
  • 704‑444-2400
 
Sexual Assault Response
Students wishing to discuss sexual assault may also make an initial, confidential contact during business hours with the Center for Counseling and Psychological Services (704‑687‑0311) or Student Health Services (704‑687‑4617), or a local hospital emergency room. 
 
Students may report assauts to Campus Police at 704-687-2200 or, if in need of immediate assistance, 911.
 
 
Domestic Violence
 
Campus Police
 
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police   Department
  • 911
 
Other local support and evaluation