What is a Mental Health Emergency?

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) defines a mental health crisis as “any situation in which a person's behavior puts them at risk of hurting themselves or others and/or prevents them from being able to care for themselves or function effectively in the community.”

If any of the following questions are true about your current situation, or if you feel that you cannot wait to speak to someone, please contact a counselor immediately for crisis support.

• Are you feeling so distressed that you may be unable to keep yourself or others safe?
• Do you have a current plan to attempt suicide or harm someone else?
• Has someone close to you recently died?
• Have you witnessed a traumatic event within the past couple of days?
• Have you recently been physically or sexually assaulted?
• Do you hear voices or see things that others do not?
• Have your mental health symptoms become so distracting that you have been unable to attend your classes?

Counselors are available by appointment and for walk-in services Monday – Friday from 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis outside of business hours, please contact one of the following resources:

 

1. The National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
   Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 
   Call: 988
   Text: 988
   Chat: 988lifeline.org

The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 to provide free and confidential support for people in distress, as well as to provide prevention and crisis resources. If you are thinking about suicide, are worried about someone you care about, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline is available all day, every day.

 

2. The Mental Health Association Walk In Counseling Services

   Mental Health Association of Frederick County
   226 South Jefferson St., Frederick, MD 21701
   301.663.0011
   M-F 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
   Sat. & Sun. 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

The Mental Health Association of Frederick County offers walk-in behavioral health services to address mental, emotional, or family relationship crisis.

Campus Safety
Phone (non-emergency): 301.846.2453 or by dialing x2453 on any campus phone
Phone (emergency): Dial x4444 from any campus phone
 
Call Safety and Security when:

• You need someone to respond on campus immediately
• You are in any situation that is potentially violent or dangerous
• You feel unsafe for any reason

 
For more information regarding public safety on campus, please visit Public Safety.

Self-Assessment

Self-assessment can be a great first step to offer insight, support, and guidance about mental health challenges. These assessments are not meant to provide a diagnosis, but to guide and educate students about challenges they may be experiencing so they can access the best supports for their unique circumstances. Remember you are not alone and if you would like additional support, you are welcomed to schedule an appointment with a counselor to discuss your self-assessment results.  

1. Ulifeline
   Ulifeline is an anonymous online resource for college mental health. Their online assessments can help determine whether you or someone you care about may be struggling with a treatable mental health condition. Ulifeline also offers education on a variety of common mental health conditions as well as how to help a friend who may be struggling. 


2. Mental Health America
   Mental Health America is another anonymous online resource that offers assessment for a variety of mental health challenges.


3. HelpGuide
   Helpguide provides trustworthy guidance that can be used to strengthen your mental health and well-being, navigate challenges, and make healthy changes in your life.


4. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) questionnaire
   Trauma can impact the whole person including attachment, self-esteem, emotional regulation, behavior, world view, and even the way the brain works. The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study was completed in the mid 1990s by Kaiser Permanente and the CDC. They discovered that adverse childhood experiences are linked to physical, mental, and behavioral health conditions that ultimately can result in a shorter life.
   
   Having four or more ACEs:
   • Significantly increases your risk for seven out of 10 leading adult causes of death in the U.S.
   • Doubles your risk of becoming a smoker
   • Makes you 7x more likely to struggle with alcohol
   • Increases the risk of attempted suicide by 1200%

1. Having six or more ACEs increases the risk of your lifespan being shortened by 20 years.
2. Watch this six-minute video that explains ACE’s impact on the brain, body, and behavior.

 

Curious what your ACE Score is? Take this assessment to find out.

 

Self Assessment Quiz

Dr. Benita Rashaw
Associate Vice President for Student Affairs
Title IX Coordinator for Students
Student Center, H-100A
[email protected]
Office: 301.846.2469
 
Title IX is a federal regulation that prohibits any type of gender-based discrimination in educational settings. Frederick Community College (FCC) has a responsibility to establish and maintain a learning and working environment that is free from sexual misconduct, discrimination, and harassment, and that respects and protects the dignity and value of every member of the College community.
 
Title IX sexual harassment is a form of sexual discrimination prohibited by federal and state discrimination laws, including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and is strictly prohibited by FCC.
 
This Policy and Procedures applies to all members of the College community. Sexual harassment can be committed by a person of any sex or gender identification, and it can occur between people of the same or different sex or gender identification. The full text of the FCC Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy and Procedures can be found here.
 
Frederick Community College provides support and services for reported instances of sexual misconduct, gender-based violence, harassment, stalking, intimate partner/relationship violence, and unequal opportunities based on gender. If a student experiences or witnesses any type of harassment, violence, or discrimination, they should report it to the assistant vice president of student affairs or through the Online Reporting Form.
 
General information regarding Title IX policies can be found here.
 

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 
Call: 988
Text: 988
Chat: 988lifeline.org
 The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 to provide free and confidential support for people in distress, as well as to provide prevention and crisis resources. If you are thinking about suicide, are worried about someone you care about, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline is available all day, every day. 

The Trevor Project
866-488-7386 - 24 hour suicide hotline for gay or questioning youth.
 
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Maryland Chapter

 

Mental Health Association of Frederick County 
226 South Jefferson St., Frederick, MD 21701
301.663.0011
M-F 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Sat. & Sun. 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
 
The Mental Health Association of Frederick County offers walk-in behavioral health services to address mental, emotional, or family relationship crisis.
 

Heartly House
24 Hour Hotline: 301.662.8800
 
Heartly House offers 24-Hour hotline/intervention, hospital accompaniment, emergency shelter, counseling services, legal services, abuse intervention programs, human trafficking prevention, community-based services, and resources for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence/intimate partner violence to Frederick County residents. 
 

Rape, Abuse, Incest, National Network (RAINN)
24 Hour Hotline: 800.656.4673
Chat option available

RAINN is the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization, offering the national sexual assault hotline and carrying out programs to prevent sexual violence, help survivors, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.
 

Sexual Assault Legal Institute (SALI)
301.565.2277 or toll-free at 877.496.7254
 
Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault’s (MCASA) Sexual Assault Legal Institute (SALI) provides pro bono legal services to survivors of sexual violence in Maryland.
 
SALI has Spanish-speaking advocates on staff and will provide language interpretation services for other languages, including ASL.

Everybody has the right to be safe in relationships. The National Domestic Violence Hotline defines domestic violence, also called intimate partner violence, as “a pattern of behaviors used by one partner to maintain power and control over another partner in an intimate relationship.” This includes physical abuse, emotional and verbal abuse, sexual abuse, financial abuse, digital abuse, and stalking.
 
If you are experiencing domestic violence/ intimate partner violence, please contact a counselor or a community resource for additional support and safety planning.
 
Local and National Resources
 
Heartly House
24 Hour Hotline: 301.662.8800
Heartly House offers 24-Hour hotline/intervention, hospital accompaniment, emergency shelter, counseling services, legal services, abuse intervention programs, human trafficking prevention, community-based services, and resources for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence/intimate partner violence to Frederick County residents. 
 
National Domestic Violence Hotline
1.800.799.7233
Text “Start” to 88788
Online Chat 
 
Other hotlines:
If you or someone you know needs help, please contact a hotline for additional support and resources.

• Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence: 1.800.MD.HELPS or 301.429.3601
• National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1.800.656.HOPE (4673), available 24 hours a day
• National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline: 1.866.331.9474; 1.866.331.8453 (TTY)
• National Victims of Crime Hotline: 1.855.4.VICTIM (855.484.2846)
• Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network (RAINN): 800.656.4673
• Stalking Resources Center: 202.467.8700

Strengthening resilience-building skills assists with managing stress. This online resource provides a variety of free tools for mindfulness including mediation, yoga, guided imagery, and virtual calming rooms to help build resiliency and manage stress.  Try it out here.