What to do if you’re concerned about a student
If you’re concerned about a student’s mental or physical health, and/or are concerned a student may be a danger to themselves or others, please reach out to one of the following resources.
Emergencies & urgent after-hours concerns
Cornell’s Public Safety Communications Center
Available 24/7:
- Call 607-255-1111
- Or call 911 (connects to Cornell Public Safety from a campus phone and local emergency dispatch from other phones)
Cornell’s Public Safety Communications Center connects callers with appropriate resources, including emergency response / ambulance, the Cornell Administrator on-Call, the Community Response Team, CU Police, and other resources.
Non-emergency concerns
Student Support and Advocacy Services
Available Monday-Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm:
- Call 607-254-8598
- Or submit a Student of Concern Referral Form (select “Student of Concern” in the Report Type drop-down menu)
Student Support and Advocacy Services (SSAS) in the Dean of Students Office receives and responds to concerns about students in distress. When you contact SSAS, a Care Manager will reach out to the student and to you, as needed, and will collaborate with campus partners (including Cornell Health, when appropriate) to provide support for the student. Learn more about when to refer a student to SSAS.
How to help a student connect with CAPS
Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS)
If you believe a student could benefit from seeking mental health support:
- Encourage them to schedule a CAPS Access Appointment by calling 607-255-5155, or by logging in to myCornellHealth.
- Students may also drop in to Let’s Talk to consult informally with a CAPS counselor.
If a student needs immediate support:
- During business hours, students can walk into Cornell Health (or you can walk them to Cornell Health) for an urgent care appointment. We suggest calling ahead, when possible, to reduce the wait time to see a counselor (607-255-5155).
- When we’re closed, students can call us at 607-255-5155 to connect with a licensed therapist from ProtoCall, our on-call support team of mental health professionals. ProtoCall therapists are experienced in providing support for common concerns experienced by college students, and can also refer them to Cornell or community resources, when appropriate. (Consultation in different languages available.)
If you have a specific concern or question about connecting a student to Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) support, you can call Cornell Health at 607-255-5155 during business hours and ask to speak with the CAPS staff member on duty.
Other resources
- Visit our Concern for Others webpage to learn about common signs of distress.
- Learn about our Notice & Respond programs for faculty and staff.