Support · Start here

You do not have
to solve it alone.

The right resource depends on urgency, privacy, location, and what kind of problem you are facing.

REACH
OUT
Asking early can make the next step smaller.

This page is a starting map, not a directory for every country or campus. Services and confidentiality rules vary. If someone is in immediate danger, unconscious, cannot be awakened, has trouble breathing, or may hurt themselves or someone else, contact local emergency services now.

Choose by urgency.

Immediate danger

Stay with the person when safe to do so. Contact local emergency services or go to the nearest emergency department.

Urgent emotional crisis

Use your campus crisis service, local crisis line, or emergency mental health service. Ask a trusted person to stay with you.

Persistent or worsening problem

Contact campus counseling, a health center, primary-care clinician, or licensed mental-health professional.

Alcohol or drug concern

A campus health professional or substance-use specialist can assess patterns confidentially and discuss options.

Relationship or sexual harm

Look for a confidential advocate, campus victim-support service, or specialist community organization before deciding what you want to do.

Academic impact

Advising, accessibility or disability services, student support, and faculty can help with practical accommodations and communication.

What to say when booking

You do not need the right label. Describe change, duration, and impact: “For three weeks I have been unable to sleep, I have missed classes, and I am struggling to function. I need an appointment.” Ask whether the service is confidential, what it costs, how soon you can be seen, and what to do if the situation worsens.

If the first door is closedAsk: “Where should I go next?” Waitlists and eligibility rules are system problems, not proof that your concern is unimportant. Try another route and involve a trusted person if doing it alone feels impossible.

Reliable starting points

For United States information, the National Institute of Mental Health explains routes to care, and SAMHSA provides treatment-finding information. Outside the United States, use official national health services, your university’s student support pages, or a licensed local clinician.

Sources and further reading

Reviewed July 2026. This page provides general educational information and is not a diagnosis or a substitute for professional care.

When “I’m not sure” is enough reason to act.

If a person may be in immediate danger, is unconscious, cannot be awakened, has trouble breathing, or may hurt themselves or someone else, contact local emergency services now. Do not leave them alone.

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