Health & Safety

Mental Health

Throughout Tau Epsilon Phi’s health and safety efforts we encourage all members and volunteers to do the right thing. When addressing perceived mental health concerns use care as your guiding principle in framing conversations.

There are many reasons people experience anxiety, hopelessness, or other distress. Whatever the reason, getting help sooner rather than later can help prevent more serious problems down the road. Remember that you are not a mental health professional, so we recommend seeking guidance and support, whether it is you or someone else who is experiencing distress. Starting with your Campus Counseling Services is always a good idea. Most campuses offer students counseling services for little or no cost. You can search for “counseling center” on your campus website or call the health center and ask how to get in touch with counseling services. Counseling services often include consultation support as well for members who are seeking guidance on how to help someone else.

Below are resources that you can use to educate yourself and find information and support:

Get help: Crisis and Counseling Resources

Crisis Resources and Helplines

The Jed Foundation, provides a comprehensive, confidential, online resource center where college students can feel comfortable searching for information regarding mental and emotional health. It includes:

  • Self-Evaluator, a self-administered screening for thirteen common mental health conditions (note that, while confidential, the tool requires you to select your school in order to complete it, and not all schools are included in their database).
  • Help a Friend, including how to tell if a friend is struggling, how to talk to a friend who is struggling, and other topics.
  • Wellness topics, including sleep, exercise, nutrition, stress management & relaxation, and connectedness & healthy relationships.

Mental health resource center for emotional health and well-being

This resource by the Jed Foundation has several sections, including:

  • What to do if you face several specific situations in these two categories:
    • I’m worried about someone (lists 10 situations, e.g., someone I know may be at risk of suicide, a friend seems really down and may be depressed, I’m worried about someone but I’m not sure if there’s cause for concern, I’ve offered help to someone but they don’t want to accept it)
    • I’m worried about myself (lists 7 situations, e.g., I’m having thoughts of suicide, I’m feeling down, I’d like some tips to manage stress and anxiety, I’m worried my alcohol/substance use may be problematic)
  • Emotional well-being, e.g., building positive relationships, managing stress, mindfulness, and sleep.
  • I want to learn about… (lists 13 topics, e.g., ADHD, anxiety disorders, depression, self-harm)

Other resources: Educate yourself and others about mental health and suicide awareness

If you are in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, there are options to help you cope. The following resources are confidential and operate 24/7. You can also contact these resources if you are worried about a friend or loved one.

  • The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a 24-hour, toll-free, confidential suicide prevention hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Call 988 or visit the website to chat. The website also includes helpful information about suicide as well as stories of hope and recovery.
  • Crisis Text Line is the only 24/7, nationwide crisis-intervention text-message hotline. Text START to 741-741.

Know the signs

Know the Signs is a suicide prevention campaign and website built on three key messages: Know the signs. Find the words. Reach out. This campaign is intended to educate Californians how to recognize the warning signs of suicide, how to find the words to have a direct conversation with someone in crisis and where to find professional help and resources. While some the resources are California-specific, the guidance on how to notice distress and talk about suicide is useful for everyone.

Additional Resources:

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline || Lifeline (988lifeline.org)

The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States.

Active Minds || https://www.activeminds.org/

Active Minds is the premier organization impacting young adults and mental health. Now with Active Mind chapters on more than 600 campuses, they directly reach more than 1.9 million students each year through campus awareness campaigns, events, advocacy, outreach, and more. Visit their website to learn more.

Crisis Text Line || https://www.crisistextline.org/

Text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the United States, anytime. Crisis Text Line is here for any crisis. A live, trained Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds, all from our secure online platform. The volunteer Crisis Counselor will help you move from a hot moment to a cool moment.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline || https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

Call – 988

The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States.

The Steve Fund || https://www.stevefund.org/

The Steve Fund is dedicated to supporting the mental health and emotional well-being of young people of color. This website is filled with resources, programs, and scholarships.

Text STEVE to 741741 to access a culturally trained Crisis Text Line counselor.

Further resources:

Crisis Text Line: Text BRAVE to 741-741

National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1 (800) 656-HOPE

National Runaway Safeline: 1 (800) RUNAWAY

National Substance Abuse Referral Line: 1 (800) 662-HELP