Psychological Emergency

Any situation that requires an immediate police, fire, or medical response to preserve life or property is considered an emergency. Please do not hesitate to call 911 or the appropriate emergency contact number.

You know you are witnessing a psychological emergency when someone:

• is a threat to him or herself—considering, threatening, or atttempting suicide or other self-harm.
• is a threat to your safety or the safety of another.
• appears to be out of touch with reality, which may include responding to visual or auditory hallucinations.

Crisis response

Many situations may not be immediately life-threatening, but do warrant some kind of prompt attention or advice.

During regular business hours (8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.): call Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at 255-5208 and identify the situation as an emergency. We are equipped to handle crisis situations on short notice. The receptionist will link callers with a CAPS clinician who, after assessing the situation, will provide specific direction about what to do.

After hours (5:00 p.m.-8:30 a.m.), call the on-call provider at Gannett for a phone consultation: 255-5155.

Other assistance 

• for undergraduate students living in residence halls—Office of Community Development: 607 255-5533
• for graduate and professional students living in Cornell housing—Office of Graduate and Professional Student Housing: 607 255-7290
• for assistance for students living off-campus and in fraternities and sororities, contact the Dean of Students Office (607 255-56839) or the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs (607 255-2310).
• Cayuga Medical Center Emergency Department: 607 274-4411
• Empathy, Assistance, and Referral Service: 607 255-EARS (5-3277). EARS offers free and confidential nonjudgmental, short-term counseling by trained student volunteers. 
• Suicide Prevention and Crisis Service: 272-1616. SPCS is a community agency which offers a free, confidential, 24-hour telephone hot-line service.