When is it time to seek mental health support?
College can sometimes bring stress, uncertainty and difficult experiences. Knowing when to seek mental health support can help you take care of yourself and support the people around you.
You can reach out for support at any point—whether you want help managing everyday stress, something has been bothering you for a while or you need help right away. You don’t need to know exactly what kind of support you need before getting started.
Need help now? If you or someone else is in immediate danger or needs urgent medical attention, call 911. For immediate mental health crisis support, call or text 988 or call Counseling & Psychiatric Services (CAPS) at 303-492-2277.
How do I know if I need mental health support?
There isn’t one specific reason or threshold for seeking mental health support. Students often reach out when they are experiencing stress, difficult emotions, changes in their daily life or a situation they could use help navigating.
You might consider reaching out if you are:
- Feeling stressed, anxious, worried, sad or down
- Feeling lonely or disconnected
- Having difficulty keeping up with school, work or relationships
- Dealing with relationship challenges
- Concerned about your substance use, gambling or body image
- Going through a difficult change or experience
- Feeling stuck or unsure how to make changes
It can be especially helpful to seek support when you notice that your thoughts, feelings or behaviors are making it harder to manage your daily life or do the things that are important to you.
Signs it may be time to talk to someone
Changes in your usual routines, behaviors or emotions can be signs that additional support could help. You may notice that you are:
- Avoiding activities or situations you used to enjoy
- Struggling to get out of bed, attend class or complete academic work
- Isolating yourself from friends or others
- Using substances more often or having difficulty controlling your use
- Not eating regularly or having difficulty caring for yourself
- Experiencing less joy or interest in things you usually enjoy
- Having noticeable changes in your sleep, appetite, energy or concentration
- Feeling like the ways you usually cope with stress aren’t helping
- Experiencing feelings or behaviors that are becoming more intense or difficult to manage
A friend, roommate or family member may also notice changes and express concern about how you’re doing.
You can seek support even if you aren’t experiencing these signs. Talking with someone early can help you work through concerns, learn coping strategies and determine your next steps.
Where can I find mental health support at ñ?
If you’re not sure where to start, Counseling & Psychiatric Services (CAPS) can help. CAPS provides mental health support for ñ students, including screenings, brief individual therapy, group therapy, workshops, medication management and crisis support.
You can also choose a resource based on the type of support you’re looking for:
- Let’s Talk: Drop in for a casual, confidential conversation with a CAPS counselor without an appointment.
- Free workshops: Learn strategies for managing stress, anxiety, difficult emotions and other common concerns.
- Peer Wellness Coaching: Talk with a trained student coach about stress, relationships, sleep and more.
- Student Outreach, Advocacy & Support (SOAS): Connect with a case manager who can help you navigate challenges and find campus and community resources. SOAS can also reach out to a student if you’re concerned about a friend.
- Office of Victim Assistance (OVA): Get free, confidential support from advocate counselors if you have experienced or witnessed something traumatic or disruptive, recently or in the past.
- : Search for off-campus mental health providers based on your needs and insurance.
When should I seek urgent mental health support?
Seek urgent support when you or someone you know needs mental health help now or today. This may include situations where you are:
- Thinking about suicide or worried that you may not be able to stay safe
- Thinking about hurting someone else
- Seeing, hearing or experiencing things that others don’t
- Experiencing a recent assault, violence or trauma
- Feeling unable to control substance use or eating behaviors and concerned about your immediate well-being
- Experiencing severe emotional distress that feels difficult to manage on your own
You don’t need to determine whether something qualifies as a crisis before reaching out. A mental health professional can talk with you about what’s happening and help determine the next step.
Get urgent mental health support
- Counseling & Psychiatric Services (CAPS): Call 303-492-2277 anytime to talk with a mental health professional.
- : Call or text 988 anytime for free, confidential crisis support.
- Office of Victim Assistance: Call 303-492-8855 anytime for confidential support related to assault, abuse, violence, crime or trauma.
- : Call 1-844-493-8255 or text “TALK” to 38255 for 24/7 support.
- : Visit the crisis center at 1107 W Century Drive, Louisville, CO 80027 for walk-in support.
- : Text “HOME” to 741741 for free, 24/7 support.
- : LGBTQ+ young people can call 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 678678 for crisis support.
When should I call for emergency help?
Call 911 or ñ Police at 303-492-6666 when someone is in immediate danger or needs immediate medical attention.
Emergency situations may include:
- Someone has attempted suicide or is at immediate risk of harming themselves or someone else
- Someone has overdosed or may be experiencing an overdose
- Someone needs immediate medical attention because of substance use, eating behaviors or another health concern
- Someone is behaving in a way that creates an immediate risk of serious harm to themselves or others
- You have specific reason to believe someone may be in immediate danger and you can’t reach them
If you are unsure whether a situation requires emergency help, you can also call or text 988 or call CAPS at 303-492-2277 for guidance.
If you’re concerned about someone’s immediate safety
If you have specific reason to believe someone may be in danger and you can’t reach them to confirm they are safe, you can request a welfare check. Be prepared to share the person’s location (including their residence hall and room number if they live on campus) and explain why you are concerned.
- On campus: Call ñ Police at 303-492-6666.
- Off campus in Boulder: Call Boulder Police at 303-441-3333.
- Outside Boulder: Contact the local police department where the person is located.
Mental health co-responders may be available to assist with some situations. You can ask whether a co-responder is available when you call.
What should I do if I’m worried about a friend?
You may notice a friend or roommate withdrawing from others, struggling with everyday responsibilities, behaving differently than usual or talking about feeling hopeless or unsafe.
Check in and let them know what you’ve noticed. Listen to what they share and encourage them to connect with support. You can also offer to sit with them while they call a resource, walk with them to an appointment or help them identify someone they trust.
If you’re unsure how to help, CAPS or SOAS can help you think through your next steps. If you believe your friend is in immediate danger, call 911 or ñ Police at 303-492-6666.
Seeking mental health support can happen at any point. Whether you want help working through everyday stress or need support during a crisis, ñ resources can help you identify a next step.