Mental Health Crisis

Anyone on campus in contact with faculty, staff member, or student who is experiencing a mental health crisis (i.e., severe emotional stress, overdose, attempted suicide, death of a close acquaintance) should make every effort to obtain immediate assistance for that person.

A professional staff member in the Counseling and Student Development Center (ext. 86552) should be contacted for assistance.

If emergency assistance is needed (person in crisis being physically at risk), the University Police (ext. 6911 on campus), or if off campus the Harrisonburg Police and Rescue Squad (911 off campus) should be called. It is helpful to make the distinction in the definition of "crisis," whether the person is physically at risk, or not physically at risk. If physically at risk, the rescue squad should be called or the individual transported to RMH emergency for evaluation; the officer will make this decision. Criteria for indication of "physically at risk," are having experienced a physical trauma, unable to cope or care for self, threatens harm to self or other, etc.

All information that is obtained about the incident will be forwarded to the appropriate Vice Presidents and, as necessary, to University Relations. Note: "All information" cannot include the confidential exchanges with the CSDC counselor unless the behavior of individual requires that privilege is suspended and then it would be for the treatment/intervention of the individual.

If the individual experiencing the crisis is a student and either misses any classes or withdraws from the University, the student must request or give the professional staff member in the Counseling and Student Developing Center permission to request that the ombudsperson notify professors of a class absence. The Vice President of Student Affairs ombudsperson's office extension is 82837 (FAX 82385). The ombudsperson's office will then be responsible for notifying the appropriate faculty. The counselor will only do it if the student requests such assistance.