Psychological Emergencies

What Should I Do During a Psychological Emergency?

An emergency is a situation in which a student is feeling desperate, hopeless, very disoriented, and/or out of control (and perhaps in danger of harming himself/herself or someone else). Below are examples of some types of psychological emergencies and steps to follow if you should face one of them. If you are unsure if a situation is an emergency, please contact NYU-Poly CWS Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. We will be happy to talk with you about the situation.

A student has made a suicide attempt:

• Call 911 to request the appropriate emergency medical response
• Notify Campus Security of the situation at 718-260-3537
• Contact NYU-Poly CWS at 718-260-3456

A student is violent (e.g., is assaulting someone or destroying property) and/or a student has made a direct, serious, and believable threat to harm others:

• Call 911 to request the appropriate emergency medical response
• Notify Campus Security of the situation at 718-260-3537
• Contact NYU-Poly CWS at 718-260-3456

A student has stated his or her intent to commit suicide, is very disruptive, disoriented, incoherent, or behaving bizarrely:

• Contact NYU-Poly CWS at 718-260-3456. If there is no answer please call 718-260-3207 or 718-260-3548.
• If you are with the individual please walk him or her to CWS (CWS is located in Dibner 232), or you may call us and we will come to your location. (Please feel free to interrupt one of the CWS staff members even if we are in session.)

Emergencies AFTER Office Hours, on Weekends, and on Holidays

If you or someone you know is feeling hopeless or desperate, considering suicide, or thinking of harming someone else, please go to the nearest hospital emergency room immediately for help. If you or someone you know appears disoriented (not making any sense) or unable to control his or her behavior, he or she should be taken (via emergency medical transport) to the nearest hospital emergency room for evaluation and assistance. Find a responsible friend or adult to accompany you. If you do not believe you can safely get to the emergency room, please call 911 for safe transportation to the hospital.

Request Referrals

To speak to a trained professional who can make referrals to local mental health services near you, please call:

• 800-LIFENET (800-543-3638)
• 877-298-3373 (Spanish)
• 877-990-8585 (Chinese)

Speak To a Trained Paraprofessional

About issues such as depression, suicidal thoughts, grief, sexual issues and alcoholism:

• Samaritans of New York confidential 24-hour hotline 212-673-3000

To sort out a problem, to put your life in perspective, or to talk to a sympathetic person:

• 212-532-2400 or 1-800-SUICIDE (800-784-2433) 24-hours

Request a Mobile Unit

If you are in the New York area and are in need of a crisis mobile unit, please call a unit in your area:

• Brooklyn: 718-245-2341 or 718-240-6377 or 718-935-7284
• Manhattan: 212-604-7000
• North Bronx: 718-319-7329
• Queens: 718-463-9070 or 718-334-3443
• South Bronx: 718-579-4627
• Westchester: 914-347-6400 or 914-493-7075

Possible Psychological Emergency Situations

The following situations represent possible emergencies or situations that could develop into emergencies. In these situations, it is important that you contact CAPS for assistance as soon as possible.

• Extreme and uncontrollable emotional reactions (e.g., student cries uncontrollably and is unable to stop crying even after talking with you for a while)
• Loss of contact with reality (e.g., student seeing/hearing things not apparent to others, thoughts or behavior not consistent with reality, extremely paranoid thinking, grandiose or delusional beliefs, extreme confusion)
• Disturbed speech or communication (e.g., incoherent or illogical speech or e-mail; bizarre statements; disorganized, rambling, or excessive and rapid speech)
• Written work or drawings with hopeless, bizarre, paranoid, or threatening content