Cornell offers a wide range of information, resources, and services to support students’ health and well-being, many of which are offered through CornellHealth. Particularly helpful places to start are:

Many Cornell students find that they benefit from counseling, psychological services, or other forms of support for their mental and emotional health. Some important sources of that support at Cornell are:

  • Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) provides confidential, professional support for a range of needs, including stress & anxiety, depression & loneliness, trauma or grief, adjustment challenges, relationship difficulties, questions about identity, and managing existing mental health conditions.
  • Empathy, Assistance and Referral Service (EARS) provides anonymous, free, and confidential peer counseling services to both undergraduate and graduate students. For services or more information, call (607) 255-EARS (3277) or visit 213 Willard Straight Hall.
  • Let's Talk provides confidential, free, informal drop-in consultation with a Cornell Health counselor. No appointments are necessary; services are first-come, first-served. Regular semester hours are posted on the website.

Those with concerns about an undergraduate or graduate student can consult the DNS Student Distress Protocol below which describes ways to recognize and respond to different signs of distress.

Signs of Distress

You might notice one serious sign or a cluster of less serious signs from different categories.

  • EMOTIONAL Irritability, anger; sadness, crying, anxiety; showing extreme reactions; expressions of disinterest, apathy, or hopelessness; suicidal comments
  • COGNITIVE Decline in work or academic performance; poor concentration or decision-making; out of touch with reality, odd speech
  • PHYSICAL Frequent health issues; problems with sleep or eating; rapid heartbeat/jittery; disheveled appearance; social withdrawal; increased drinking or drug use
Levels of Distress
  • CONCERN - Visible distress, personal loss or significant life event, academic difficulties, sleep or eating problems, emotional outbursts, social withdrawal
  • URGENT - Expressions of hopelessness; talk of suicide; being out-of-touch with reality
  • EMERGENCY - Immediate threat of harm to self/others
Responding to a concerning level of distress in an undergraduate or graduate student

EMERGENCY

If you believe that you and/or someone else is in any kind of immediate physical danger at any time, call Cornell campus police at 911 with a campus phone OR 607-255-1111 with any other phone.

  • Tell them everything you know about the student and the situation, including who else is present.
  • The police will coach you about what you should do next.
  • Once the situation has been addressed, proceed with next steps, below.
URGENT

During normal business hours, call Cornell Health (Gannett) at 607-255-5208 and ask to speak to a counselor. After business hours, call Cornell Health (Gannett) at 607-255-5155.

  • If the student is present, tell the student you would like to help and need to get guidance from someone more knowledgeable. If you need to leave to make the phone call make sure someone else stays with the student.
  • Tell the counselor everything you know about the student and the situation. They will coach you about what you should do next.
  • Once the situation has been addressed, proceed with next steps, below.
CONCERN, during normal business hours
  • UNDERGRADUATE: If CALS, call Student Services, 607-255-2257; if CHE, call the Office of Student and Career Development, 607-255-2532; if A&S, call Academic Advising at 607-255-4833 or 607-255-5004.
    • Tell them everything you know about the student and the situation.
    • Tell them about assistance you have already received from others, and what they advised.
    • They may ask for assistance from other college and/or Cornell resources.
  • GRADUATE: Call the Office of Graduate Student Life, 607-255-5184, or the Graduate School, 607-255-5820.
    • Share the information noted for undergrads.
    • Provide whatever assistance Student Services or the Graduate School request.

Note: Although you may walk the student to Cornell Health (Gannett); to CALS Student Services (140 Roberts Hall); to CHE Office of Student and Career Development (Academic Surge A, on the Ag quad); to A&S Academic Advising (G17 Klarman Hall), or to the Graduate School (384 Caldwell Hall), under no circumstances should you drive the student anywhere if there is immediate danger, or if you are quite concerned. Additional information can be found on the CornellHealth website.

If you believe that you and/or someone else is in any kind of immediate physical danger at any time, call Cornell campus police at 911 with a campus phone OR 607-255-1111 with any other phone.