Mental Health & Counseling Services

We support and enhance your health and wellness by providing person-centered and strengths-based mental health services — counseling is a team effort between you and your counselor, built on a unique and confidential relationship.

Mental Health Services

Access Free Counseling 24/7

You have access to free, real-time professional support 24/7 through the Student Assistance Program. Receive tools and resources to help manage stress and navigate a variety of challenges including:

Depression/anxiety
Cultural diversity issues
Substance abuse
Relationships
Academic or career stress
Financial or legal concerns

How to Access Free Counseling Services
Developed by BHS, the Student Assistance Program is being offered as a free service to SUNY Plattsburgh students in addition to mental health services that already exist on campus.

To access the Student Assistance Program, you have the following options:
1. Call 1-800-327-2251
2. Text 1-800-327-2251
3. Access the BHS portal at portal.BHSonline.com; username SUNYPlattsburgh
4. Download the BHS app from either the Apple app store or the Google Play app store

Confidentiality

All contacts with the counseling center are treated with the utmost confidentiality.

In general, mental health ethics and law protect the privacy of all communications between a client and a counselor, and a counselor can only release information about you with your written permission.

Due to legal and ethical guidelines, there are certain situations in which all counselors will break confidentiality and are obligated to take action to protect a client and others from harm. These situations include the following:

Your counselor has any cause to believe that you are at imminent risk of killing yourself or someone else.
If your counselor believes that a child, an elderly person, or a member of a vulnerable population is being abused or neglected, he or she will be required to file a report with the appropriate state agency.
In the event of a legal proceeding, a judge may order or subpoena your counseling records if the judge determines that the case demands it.

Learn More about our Services

If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency or are in immediate danger, call 911.

Crisis Services

Daytime Crisis Services
Daytime crisis services are accessible by calling or walking into the Counseling Center, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. during the academic year (except when campus offices are closed for the holidays). The phone number is: 518-564-2187 .

Examples of reasons to be seen for a mental health crisis include:
- You are having thoughts of suicide
- You are having serious thoughts of wanting to seriously harm or kill someone else
- You are seeing things or hearing things that others do not see or hear
- You are not able to take care of daily living skills (e.g., eating, sleeping, bathing, etc.)
After Hours Crisis Services

After hours and on weekends, students in need of mental health emergency services should contact University Police at 518-564-2022, dial 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.

In Plattsburgh, the nearest emergency room is located at:

University of Vermont Medical Center – Champlain Valley Physician’s Hospital (UVMHC – CVPH)
75 Beekman Street
Plattsburgh, NY 12901

Get Directions to CVPH on Google Maps
Community-Based Crisis Services
Emergency Assistance

Dial 911 to reach your local police department or an ambulance.

Crisis Assessment

Go to your nearest hospital emergency room and ask for assistance, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

In Plattsburgh

UVMHC/Champlain Valley Physician’s Hospital (CVPH)
75 Beekman Street
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
Find CVPH on Google Maps

Phone Support

Clinton County Suicide Hotline: 1-866-5PREVENT (1-866-577-3836)

National Support
- National Crisis Text Line: text HELLO to 741-741
- 1-800-SUICIDE: 1-800-784-2433
- National Suicide Prevention Line: 988

Mental Health Referral Options

Additional Resources

BIPOC Mental Health Resources
BIPOC Mental Health Resources:

Curated in support of students, faculty and staff at SUNY Plattsburgh who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color — and to forward the cause of anti-racism.

Treatment Directories
BIPOC Mental Health Resources

The Asian Mental Health Project — Aims to educate and empower Asian communities seeking mental healthcare.

Behavioral Health Division of the Indian Health Service — Promotes the integration of behavioral health and primary care treatment, while respecting the balance, wellness, and resilience of AI/AN people.

Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective (BEAM) — Group aimed at removing the barriers that Black people experience getting access to or staying connected with emotional health care and healing. They do this through education, training, advocacy and the creative arts.

Black Men Heal — Limited and selective free mental health service opportunities for Black men.

Visit Health in Her Hue — Health in Her Hue A digital platform connecting Black women to culturally competent healthcare providers, telehealth services, and health content.

Black Mental Health Alliance – 410-338-2642 — Provides information and resources and a “Find a Therapist” locator to connect with a culturally competent mental health professional.

Black Mental Wellness — Provides access to evidence-based information and resources about mental health and behavioral health topics from a Black perspective, as well as training opportunities for students and professionals.

Black Women’s Health Imperative — Organization advancing health equity and social justice for Black women through policy, advocacy, education, research and leadership development.

Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation — BLHF has launched the COVID-19 Free Virtual Therapy Support Campaign to raise money for mental health services provided by licensed clinicians in our network. Individuals with life-changing stressors and anxiety related to the coronavirus will have the cost for up to five individual sessions defrayed on a first come, first serve basis until all funds are committed or exhausted.

Brother You’re on My Mind — An initiative launched by Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and NIMHD to raise awareness of the mental health challenges associated with depression and stress that affect Black men and families. Website offers an online toolkit that provides Omega Psi Phi Fraternity chapters with the materials needed to educate fellow fraternity brothers and community members on depression and stress in Black men.

Dear Black Women Project — An affirmation movement for Black women by Black women — includes affirmations, resources, therapist connection and events.

Ebony’s Mental Health Resources by State — List of Black-owned and focused mental health resources by state as compiled by Ebony magazine.

The Loveland Foundation — Prioritizes opportunity, action, validation, and healing for communities of color with a particular focus on Black girls and women. Includes a therapy fund to provide assistance to Black women and girls seeking therapy nationally.

Ourselves Black — Provides information on promoting mental health and developing positive coping mechanisms through a podcast, online magazine and online discussion groups.

POC Online Classroom — Contains readings on the importance of self-care, mental health care, and healing for people of color and within activist movements.

The SIWE Project — Non-profit dedicated to promoting mental health awareness throughout the global Black community.

We R Native — For indigenous youth: information about health, relationships, education—all things youth-centered. Also offers various contests and grants

Self-Care for Individuals Who Are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color

We recognize that many mental health conditions are being triggered as a result of the coronavirus, the economic crisis and repeated racist incidents and death.

Learn more about mental health conditions including anxiety disorders, depression and posttraumatic stress disorder.
- Article on coping with anticipatory grief
- Article on coping with traumatic stress
- Article on Racial Battle Fatigue
Understanding and Addressing Social Determinants of Health that Impact Mental Health
- Article on improving the health of Black Americans and the overdue opportunity for social justice.
- Video on understanding the social determinants of health and toxic stress.
- Video on the social determinants of toxic stress, specifically race and ethnic toxic stress.
- The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Page on Achieving Health Equity — Information about why health equity matters and what you can do to help give everyone a fair shot at being as healthy as they can be.
Ways to Take Action as an Ally or Champion for Community Members Who Are Black, Indigenous and People of Color
- Article on being a white ally through word, actions and power.
- Article on being a white ally for racial justice.
- Community based organizations to partner with: Color of Change, Black Lives Matter, Change Zero, The Innocent Project.
BIPOC Mental Health Resources Page content partially adapted from NAMI National. 10/15/2020 ALO
Self Assessments

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I Get Charged if I Miss an Appointment?

The Student Health and Counseling Center strives to optimize access to services. If you no longer want, or are unable to keep an appointment, please call us to either cancel or reschedule. Providing us with advanced notice enables us to fill that appointment spot with another student who needs services, and if needed, to reschedule your appointment as quickly as possible.

You will be charged a no-show fee if:

You do not provide at least 24-hour notice for cancellation or rescheduling. If you have an appointment on a Monday, please call on Friday, which allows us time to schedule someone else into your appointment slot.
You fail to attend a scheduled appointment.

The following no-show fees will apply to the following scheduled appointments as of Fall 2019:

Counseling	Health
$15 for 30 minutes	$10 for 20 minutes
$30 for 45 – 50 minutes	$20 for 40 minutes
	$30 for 60 minutes

We do recognize there are often legitimate reasons for missing an appointment. As a result, you have the right to appeal no-show charges. If you wish to do so, you must submit an appeal request form with the appropriate office within two weeks from the date of your missed appointment.

Counseling and psychiatry appeal forms can be requested from and submitted to the counseling center office. Health center appeal forms can be requested from and submitted to the health center office.

DOWNLOAD APPEAL FORM