Crisis

What is a Crisis?
A crisis typically involves one of the following:
- Suicidal Ideation
  - Desires, plans, or thoughts to hurt oneself
  - Please refer to Suicide Prevention
- Actively engaging in self-harming behavior
  - Most often, this may include cutting or burning oneself
- Homicidal Ideation
  - Desires, plans, thoughts to hurt others
- Other Significant Mental Health Concerns
  - Experiencing auditory and/or visual hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that others do not see or hear)
  - Experiencing delusions (having false, fixed beliefs that conflict with reality)
  - Experiencing manic symptoms (At least three of the following: insomnia, rapid speech, racing thoughts, being easily distracted, exaggerated sense of self-esteem, sudden desire to accomplish many tasks, psychomotor agitation [such as pacing or hand-wringing], sudden engagement in risky or dangerous activities)
- Immediate housing or food concern
  - Student is currently without food or shelter
- Immediate Medical Concern (Medical Emergency)
  - Illness or injury that requires immediate medical attention and may/could be life threatening if left untreated
  - Medical Emergencies should be reported directly to Campus and Security at 312.369.1111 or to local emergency services by calling 911.
How Do I Report a Crisis?
If a student is experiencing a crisis (such as suicidal or homicidal ideation, a significant mental health concern, or immediate housing or food insecurity) please contact the office of Student Relations immediately during business hours:
- Fall and Spring Semester Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9:00am to 6:00pm; Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm
- Summer, Winter Term, and Breaks: Monday-Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm
- Phone Number: 312-369-8595
- After business hours, please call Campus Safety and Security at 312-369-1111 to report a crisis.
Students that are actively experiencing a medical emergency should call 911.

Students that are actively experiencing a mental health emergency should call 988 (starting July 16, 2022).

During any emergency, students may call Campus Safety and Security at 312-369-1111 for consultation.
How Does Student Relations Help?
A Student Relations staff member will meet with the student of concern to complete a brief intake to better understand the student’s concerns. If warranted, the staff member will complete an assessment of the student’s concerns, provide some coping strategies to reduce active symptoms, and connect the student to appropriate resources to mitigate the presenting issue. Frequently, Student Relations may have to help students seek out medical attention or assist in finding essential needs such as shelter and food to address the student’s concerns.

A crisis typically involves one of the following: