Table of Contents
Overview
Mental health crises among college students are increasing in frequency and severity, placing new demands on campus leaders, faculty, and staff. This resource outlines how to recognize signs of crisis, respond effectively, and ensure students are connected to timely, professional support. Learn how tools like TimelyCare’s CrisisNow line can strengthen your institution’s ability to respond with confidence and care.
In the high-pressure world of college life where students juggle academics, relationships, finances, and future goals, mental health crises can emerge suddenly and without warning. When a student feels overwhelmed, isolated, or in distress, knowing where to go or how to respond in those critical moments can make all the difference.
No student should face a crisis alone. That’s why resources like TimelyCare’s CrisisNow, our 24/7 direct mental health crisis support phone line, are so essential. Crisis resources like this are designed to provide immediate, compassionate care for students in their moment of need. Whether you’re a student seeking help, a peer, an RA, or a faculty member looking to support someone in distress, here’s what you need to know about recognizing and de-escalating a mental health crisis and how resources like CrisisNow can help.
Mental health crises and suicide among college students
The pressures of academic life, financial concerns, and the social-emotional challenges of early adulthood are pushing more students to the brink. Faculty and staff are seeing this firsthand, and the data backs it up.
- 27% of students report seriously considering suicide in the past year, as reported by the American College Health Association Fall 2024 National College Health Assessment.
- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the second-leading cause of death for college-aged youth.
- About 1 in 5 students experiences serious psychological distress annually, according to the 2023-25 Healthy Minds Network study.
Anxiety, depression, and trauma—combined with academic, social, and financial stress—create an environment ripe for crisis. Students from marginalized communities, especially LGBTQ+ and BIPOC students, often experience even higher levels of distress.
Knowing this, faculty and staff are increasingly the first line of support. Recognizing warning signs and responding compassionately can quite literally save lives.
What is a mental health crisis?
A mental health crisis doesn’t always mean thoughts of suicide. It could be a panic attack, psychosis, emotional breakdown, or overwhelming stress. A crisis is subjective: what feels minor to one student might feel insurmountable to another.
Examples include:
- Suicidal ideation or intent
- Disorganized thought processes
- Severe panic or anxiety
- Intense emotional outbursts
- Substance-related emergencies
- Severe stress, which makes everyday functioning difficult
When left unaddressed, these crises can escalate to self-harm or life-threatening situations.
How to recognize a student in crisis
Recognizing a student in crisis starts with paying attention to warning signs that something may be wrong. Students in crisis may not verbalize that they are experiencing a crisis, but they do often display noticeable changes in behavior, mood, or appearance. Recognizing the warning signs, as well as noticing such deviations from someone’s “normal” baseline, is critical.
Common indicators include: Statements about hopelessness or death (even vague or joking), drastic changes in behavior or mood, chronic absenteeism or plummeting grades, unkempt appearance, visible injuries, or signs of substance misuse and social withdrawal or unusual aggression.
Trust your instincts. If something feels “off,” it likely is. It’s important to act quickly. Early recognition and intervention can make a significant difference.
3 steps to crisis management
Managing a crisis starts with understanding the steps needed to respond effectively and support those in distress.
1. Identify the crisis
Look for warning signs and listen for cues. Students may not say “I’m in crisis,” but their words or behaviors may clearly suggest it. Don’t dismiss signs of emotional dysregulation. Some people may become more irritable and lash out at others more frequently, uncharacteristically; others may cry on a whim; and still others may show dramatic shifts in mood–sad and despondent one minute, then excited and motivated the next.
2. Assess risk
Mental health professionals use tools like the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), but faculty can listen for concerning indicators:
- Expressed intent or plan to harm oneself or others
- Extreme emotional distress
- Past history of suicide attempts or trauma
If a student expresses any intent to harm themselves or others, or is behaving erratically, this is a high-risk situation.
3. Mitigate and connect to help
For faculty and staff, the goal isn’t to diagnose, it’s to stabilize and connect the student to support.
In the moment, you can:
- Stay calm and speak gently
- Share your observations in an empathetic, non-judgmental manner
- Offer to listen, and give them your undivided attention
- Avoid arguing, minimizing, or jumping straight to problem-solving
- Encourage slow breathing or grounding
- Remove the audience if in public
- Move toward action: Call campus counseling services or the TimelyCare CrisisNow line
If the student is at imminent risk of harming themselves or someone else, do not leave them alone. Call 911 or your campus’s emergency response team and stay with them until help arrives.
How does TimelyCare’s CrisisNow provide 24/7 support?
TimelyCare’s CrisisNow is a dedicated service that ensures students have immediate, 24/7 access to mental health professionals, anytime, day or night. This confidential, judgment-free service is available nationwide and focuses on de-escalation rather than therapy, providing critical support when it’s needed most.
How it works:
- Student calls a TimelyCare CrisisNow number
- A trained Crisis Coordinator gathers info calmly and compassionately
- A licensed crisis counselor takes over to assess risk, stabilize the situation, and create a safety plan
- If needed, emergency services are engaged, and the counselor remains on the line
CrisisNow connects students to support when they need it most, ensuring safety and care every step of the way. As part of TimelyCare’s holistic mental health offerings, CrisisNow complements virtual care and on-campus services by providing immediate, integrated crisis response that aligns with each institution’s existing protocols and care networks.
CrisisNow is:
- Available nationwide
- Confidential and judgment-free
- Focused on de-escalation, not therapy
- Integrated with follow-up care if needed
How can faculty and staff be prepared to support students in crisis?
Faculty and staff play a critical role in supporting students’ mental health and well-being. Here are a few steps you can take to be prepared:
- Familiarize yourself with campus and TimelyCare resources
- Include mental health information in syllabi and class announcements
- Know when to refer. Don’t try to solve the crisis alone
- Debrief and practice self-care after handling a crisis
- Don’t be afraid to engage with a student and ask questions. Faculty and staff are in a critical position to identify students’ crises and provide support.
If you’re unsure, err on the side of safety. Better to act than regret inaction.
Crisis resources to support college students
Whether you’re a college student, faculty, or staff, these resources are here to help. Familiarize yourself with the tools for when someone needs immediate support or you need guidance on how to assist students.
- TimelyCare CrisisNow Line: https://timelycare.com/crisis-line
- National 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988
- Faculty Guide to Supporting Student Mental Health (The Jed Foundation)
How can campuses support students during mental health crises?
Mental health crises are real, rising, and often invisible until the moment they aren’t. With preparation, empathy, and tools like CrisisNow, campuses can become places where every student is seen, supported, and safe, even in their darkest moments.
If you’re a faculty or staff member, know this: your presence, your words, and your actions matter. Sometimes, just by staying calm and showing you care, you can be the bridge from crisis to hope.
Interested in learning how a resource like CrisisNow can support your students when they’re in a crisis? Contact TimelyCare to explore how CrisisNow can be integrated into your campus.
Key Takeaways
- Mental health crises may not look extreme. Subtle shifts in behavior or mood can signal serious need.
- Faculty and staff often notice warning signs first, making preparation and awareness critical.
- Campus roles don’t require clinical expertise, but they do require knowing how to respond and refer.
- A calm, empathetic presence can help de-escalate emotionally intense situations.
- Round-the-clock access to crisis support, like TimelyCare’s CrisisNow, helps institutions respond quickly and consistently.
FAQs
Faculty and staff are not expected to provide clinical care. Their role is to recognize signs of distress, respond with empathy, and connect students to professional mental health resources.
