海角直播

National hotlines for free, confidential, 24/7/365 mental health/crisis support

988 National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

• Call or Text 988
• or Chat via

Veterans Crisis Line

• Call 988, then press “1” or Text 838-255
• or Chat via

The Trevor Project: LGBTQ+

• Call 1-866-488-7386 or Text “START” to 678-678
• or Chat via

Crisis Text Line

• Text “HOME” to 741-741
• or Chat via

Local hotlines for free, confidential, 24/7/365 mental health/crisis support

BetterMynd 24/7 Support Line

• All currently-enrolled students have access to BetterMynd
• Call 844-BTR-MYND (844-287-6963) to talk with a licensed clinician

Crisis Services (Erie campus)

• For individuals experiencing a mental health crisis and/or needing mental health support
• Call 814-456-2014

Crime Victim Center (Erie campus)

• For individuals who have experienced any type of abuse or crime. Trained therapists will accompany individuals to the ER, if needed.
• 鈥婥all 814-455-9414

SafeNet (Erie campus)

• For individuals who have experienced dating/domestic violence and/or stalking.
• Call 814-454-8161

BayCare Behavioral Health Services (Ruskin campus)

• 海角直播 has a contract with BayCare to provide students with urgent mental health support
• Call 800-878-5470

CAPS: Counseling & Psychological Services (Erie campus)

• Open Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm and located in Beyer 305
• Services are confidential, free, and no health insurance is needed
• To initiate in-person counseling or to ask questions, please email counseling@gannon.edu, and a clinician will respond promptly during normal business hours to schedule a 10-15 minute phone triage appointment
• Students seeking urgent mental health support can walk into CAPS during business hours; After business hours, students can call BetterMynd’s 24/7 Support Line at 844-BTR-MYND (844-287-6963)

• BetterMynd is 海角直播’s telehealth partner, offering individual counseling via a secure online platform
• Services are confidential, free, and no health insurance is needed
• To initiate online counseling, go to and click on "log in" in the upper right hand corner of the page. Then use your 海角直播 log-in credentials to sign into the BetterMynd dashboard.

• 海角直播 has partnered with Baycare to offer a Student Assistance Program (SAP) that provides students with solution-focused/ short-term mental health support/counseling as well as support for urgent mental health needs.
• Baycare contracts with licensed professionals from across the region to offer students in-person or virtual support.
• To initiate services, students can email baycareSAP@baycare.org or call 800-878-5470. In this call, a SAP professional will conduct an initial assessment/triage and referrals will be made to connect the student with ongoing support.
• Students can call Baycare at 800-878-5470 anytime to talk with a licensed professional for urgent mental health needs.

• CAPS hosts two Relaxation Rooms on the Erie campus. One is on the first floor of Nash Library and the other is in the CAPS office in Beyer 305. The Relaxation Rooms are available to all students and include heated massage chairs, guided mindfulness exercises, coloring, light boxes, yoga and meditation resources, sand trays, and more. These rooms can be reserved online and are free.
• To reserve the Relaxation Room in Nash Library, click here (and scroll to the bottom of the page):
• To reserve the Relaxation Room in Beyer 305, click here:

Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) (Erie campus)

• In addition to counseling services, CAPS also provides other services, including: psychiatric evaluation and medication management, psychological assessment, executive function coaching, SMART Recovery for addictions, case management and referral, educational outreach programming and training, mental health screenings, and consultative services
• Email counseling@gannon.edu for more information

AHN Health Center (Erie campus)

• Call 814-871-7622 or email health@gannon.edu

Well-Being Office

• Call 814-871-7824 or email mccann010@gannon.edu

• CARE stands for Coordination, Assessment, Response, & Education
• If you have concerns about a student’s mental health or well-being, you can submit a referral:
• A member of the CARE Team will reach out to the student to attempt to get them connected to the appropriate resource and support

• Multiple certified QPR trainers are available to train students, faculty, and staff how to effectively intervene on behalf of individuals in crisis
• Email counseling@gannon.edu to schedule a training session
• Learn more at

• Embedded into 海角直播 101 (the first year seminar), students learn how to recognize when someone might be struggling with their mental health, your role in supporting that person, and how to connect them to the help they deserve
• Learn more at

• Student organization dedicated to mental health advocacy
• Learn more at
• Join via EngageU

• Our partners at the Higher Education Suicide Prevention Coalition (HESPC) created a listing of mobile apps that can provide tools and information on mindfulness, healthy coping, and more. See the list here:

• Be sure to read CAPS’s Potty Press in an on-campus restroom for interesting and up-to-date information about mental health resources and supports

• Check out CAPS’s Instagram for daily content and updates

The levels of mental health distress can be understood on a spectrum:

• Mild distress is at the lower end of the spectrum and might manifest as feeling irritable, having trouble sleeping for a night or two or experiencing brief periods of sadness. This level of distress is often a normal reaction to life's challenges and is usually manageable with self-care and time.
• Moderate distress involves more pronounced symptoms, such as persistent anxiety, changes in appetite, social withdrawal or difficulty concentrating. At this stage, it can start to significantly affect work, school and relationships, and professional help may be beneficial.
• Severe distress is characterized by intense, debilitating symptoms that make it difficult to perform basic daily tasks. This can include, but is not limited to, panic attacks, severe depression with suicidal thoughts, or psychosis. This level of distress often requires immediate professional intervention and support.

Understanding these different levels is crucial for knowing when to seek help for oneself or others.

As members of a caring community, we all play a role in fostering a culture of well-being. A critical part of this is learning to recognize when someone might be struggling with their mental health. It's not about diagnosing, but about noticing changes and connecting people with the support they need.

Mental health exists on a spectrum, and it's normal for students to experience stress and sadness. The key is to look for a noticeable shift from their typical self — a pattern of behavior or a collection of signs that persists for days or weeks and impacts their ability to function. Trust your instincts; if you feel something is wrong, it’s worth paying attention to. Below are common signs of distress, categorized to help you identify potential concerns.

Signs of Potential Mental Health Difficulties

These signs can indicate that a student is struggling with issues like depression, anxiety, an eating disorder, substance misuse or other mental health challenges. A person may show signs from one or multiple categories.

Academic and behavioral changes:

• Significant decline in academic performance: A noticeable drop in grades, missed assignments or poor test performance that is out of character.
• Poor Attendance: Frequently skipping classes, labs, or mandatory meetings.
• Loss of Interest: Apathy or disinterest in activities, hobbies or relationships they once enjoyed.
• Social Withdrawal and Isolation: Pulling away from friends, family and social events; spending an unusual amount of time alone.
• Changes in Energy Levels: Persistent fatigue and lethargy, or, conversely, hyperactivity, agitation and restlessness.
• Increase in Reckless or Impulsive Behaviors: Engaging in actions with a high potential for negative consequences, such as reckless driving, unsafe sex or excessive spending.
• Increased Substance Use: More frequent or heavy use of alcohol or other drugs, leading to consequences like blacking out, vomiting or academic/social problems.

Emotional and social changes:

• Extreme or Prolonged Mood Swings: Rapid or dramatic shifts in mood (e.g., from euphoric to deeply sad) that seem disproportionate to the situation.
• Increased Irritability or Aggression: A short temper, frequent arguments or disruptive or threatening behavior.
• Persistent Sadness or Frequent Crying: Displaying overwhelming sadness, hopelessness or crying spells with little or no apparent cause.
• Overwhelming Anxiety or Worry: Expressing constant, excessive worry, or exhibiting physical signs of anxiety like panic attacks, trembling or shortness of breath.

Physical changes:

• Drastic Changes in Sleep Patterns: Consistently oversleeping and struggling to get out of bed (hypersomnia) or the inability to sleep (insomnia).
• Significant Weight or Appetite Changes: Dramatic weight loss or gain; a preoccupation with food, weight, calories or body image.
• Decline in Personal Hygiene: A noticeable change in personal grooming, such as not showering, wearing dirty clothes or a generally disheveled appearance.
• Unexplained Physical Ailments: Frequent complaints of headaches, stomachaches or other physical pains that do not have a clear medical cause.
• Evidence of Self-Harm: Unexplained cuts, scratches or burns, often on the arms or legs, which may be hidden by clothing.

Concerning communication or thought patterns:

• Confused or Disorganized Thinking: Bizarre speech, illogical thoughts or seeming to lose touch with reality (e.g., paranoia, strange beliefs).
• Expressions of Hopelessness or Worthlessness: Talking about feeling trapped, being a burden to others or that things will never get better.
• Overwhelming Guilt or Shame: Expressing intense feelings of guilt or self-blame over past events.

Urgent warning signs:

While the signs above are serious, the following indicators suggest an immediate and critical risk of suicide. If you observe any of these signs, it is vital to take immediate action.

• Direct or Indirect Talk About Suicide: Any mention of wanting to die, killing themselves or "not being around anymore." This can happen in person, online, in texts or in academic work. Examples include, but are not limited to, "I can't see a way out," "Everyone would be better off without me," or "If I'm not here tomorrow ...".
• Actively Seeking Means: Researching methods to end one's life online, or trying to acquire pills, weapons or other lethal means.
• Making a Plan or Preparations: This can include actions like writing a suicide note, giving away cherished possessions or making arrangements for pets or belongings.
• Expressing a Sense of Being a Burden: Stating that their friends, family or the world would be better off without them.
• A Sudden and Unexplained Sense of Calm: After a long period of deep depression, a sudden shift to being calm or happy can be a major red flag. This may indicate they have made the decision to end their life and feel a sense of relief.
• Saying Goodbye: Visiting or calling people to say goodbye in a way that feels final.

What to do if you're concerned:

• Talk to the Person Directly: If you feel comfortable and safe, talk to them in private. Express your concern using "I" statements, such as, "I've noticed you haven't been in class lately, and I'm worried about you."
• Listen Without Judgment: Allow them to share as much or as little as they want. You don't need to have the answers; just being present and listening is a powerful form of support.
• Share Your Concern and Connect Them to Help: Encourage them to speak with a professional. Fill out a  to connect them with support and resources. You can offer to walk them to Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) or help them call/email them for support. 
• In an Emergency: If you believe a student is in immediate danger of harming themselves or others, do not leave them alone, and utilize the crisis resources listed under the Crisis Resources.

_{*Some content in this section has been adapted from resources developed by .}

The resources on this webpage are shared with the campus community in a variety of ways throughout the year, including:

• Admitted Student Days
• Summer Orientations
• Emails to incoming student families during the spring and summer
• 海角直播 101/First Year Seminars
• Syllabus Statements
• Potty Presses in restrooms across campus
• Student athlete presentations/screenings/communications
• CAPS outreach events throughout the year
• Well-Being Office’s outreach events throughout the year
• CAPS’s Instagram account
• Handouts and messaging on LED screens around campus
• Presentations throughout the year
• CARE Team outreach
• AHN Health Center screenings and handouts
• Active Minds outreach events

Should a campus crisis occur, including a death by suicide of a member of the 海角直播 community, the university’s Crisis Response Team would work in conjunction with various campus departments to offer timely resources to support students and the entire campus community in the aftermath of the crisis. The Team would share relevant and appropriate information with the community to the extent possible.

CAPS has developed a postvention plan that would be implemented in the event of this sort of tragedy. This comprehensive plan was developed utilizing national best practices and tailoring it to the 海角直播 community.