During the main academic year, Counseling Center clinicians are available to provide emergency services on same-day basis.
Students needing an Emergency appointment during the main academic year may come to the Counseling Center Monday through Friday, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Common reasons that a student might utilize Emergency services include:
- Suicidal ideation with possibility of acting on self-harm thoughts
- Homicidal ideation with possibility of acting on thoughts of harm to others
- Self-injurious behaviors
- Recent assault
- Recent loss of a loved one
- Recent traumatic event that occurred to a loved one or in one's hometown
- Hallucinations
- Mania
If a student is in a life-threatening situation where the student is at imminent risk of harm to self or others, please directly proceed to the nearest Emergency room.
Emergency appointments differ from a regular therapy session. Due to the crisis nature of these kinds of sessions, an Emergency appointment usually involves the counselor and student assessing the situation together and collaboratively developing a plan for how to move forward. These consultations tend to be more solution-oriented and involve providing immediate support, identifying short-term coping strategies, learning about resources that can be helpful moving forward, and evaluating the student's current safety. As part of safety planning, a counselor and student may decide that ongoing therapy will be a useful support in order to more fully process the crisis and learn longer-term strategies for coping.
After-Hours Emergency Support
Outside of Counseling Center business hours during the main academic year, students can access the Counselor-on-Call for emergency phone consultations.
Students living on-campus can access the Counselor-on-Call through their Community Director or Public Safety.
Students living off-campus can access the Counselor-on-Call through Public Safety.
Students also have the option of contacting one of the hotlines listed below, calling 911, or proceeding to their local Emergency Room.
During the summer semester, the Counseling Center does not provide after-hours support. Students in distress may call 911, proceed to their local Emergency Room, or utilize one of the 24-hour hotlines listed below.
Students should not use email to try to make emergency contact.
Additional Resources
Please note that the below information is intended to provide CUA students, faculty, staff, and parents with additional resources for emergency situations. This is a partial listing, and inclusion in this list does not imply endorsement by the Counseling Center, nor is it intended as a substitute for professional counseling or psychiatric treatment.
CUA Department of Public Safety
Public Safety: 202-319-5111
Hotlines
- Crisis Hotline (24 hours): 202-561-7000 - Suicide and emotional stress
- DC Hotline (24 hours): 202-223-2255 - Family stress and referrals
- DC Department of Mental Health Crisis Helpline: 1-888-793-4357
- Domestic Violence Hotline (24 hours): 202-347-2777 - Victims of violence
- Montgomery County Suicide Hotline: 301-738-2255
- Montgomery County Crisis Center: 240-777-4000
- Mental Health Association Hotline (Montgomery County): 301-738-2255
- Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
- DC Rape Crisis Center: (202) 333-RAPE (7273) - Offers confidential 24-hour hotline; accompaniment to the hospital, police, and court; self-defense classes; support groups and individual counseling for rape survivors, adult survivors of incest, and partners of survivors.
- Crisis Text Line: Text "START" to 741-741
- IMAlive Crisis Chat: www.IMAlive.org