Mental Health

Students who are an immediate danger to themselves or others should call 911 in the United States or go to the nearest hospital emergency department. The following hotlines are also available 24-7: 

• NYC WELL: 1.888.692.9355 (or text "WELL" to 65173)
• National Crisis Text Line: Text "Start" to 741.741
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988
• National Graduate Student Crisis Line: 1.800.472.3457
• Trans Lifeline: 1.877.565.8860
• Trevor Project: 1.866.488.7386

Students studying outside of the United States can find crisis resources on the following websites:

• International Crisis Hotlines
• Befrienders Worldwide
• International Crisis Centers

Counseling sessions are offered online through HIPAA-compliant Zoom and in person at Student Health Services. We offer short-term flexible counseling and supportive services, provided by our counselors. During your first appointment (also called a brief assessment), you and a counselor will make a plan for treatment, based on your current needs. The first appointment will be a telehealth visit. If longer-term or specialized treatment is needed, the counselor can help you find an appropriate treatment option in your local community. To schedule your first session, visit the Student Health Services Portal. For general questions about counseling, email shs@newschool.edu.

Please note: You must complete the self-check-in process on the SHS Portal before each telehealth counseling session. Please follow the Self-Check-In Instructions to complete this process.  

Before your first session, please complete the following documents:

• SHS Notice of Privacy Practices
• Telehealth Consent Form
• SHS Portal Required Form Instructions

Our psychiatrists are available only to students receiving counseling who are located in New York State. In some cases, exceptions can be made. Psychiatric services offered include psychiatric consultation, evaluation, and medication treatment and management. Students seeking psychiatric services who are not currently in counseling with an SHS counselor or are not located in New York State are given referrals to providers in their local community.

Group is a great way for students to create community, meet other students, reduce isolation, and get support. It’s completely confidential. No judgment—just sharing and connection. To view fall 2022 group descriptions and to RSVP, fill in your interest on the registration form.

Fall 2022 Groups

Monday
Belonging: First-Generation College Student Support Group, 2:00 p.m.
Asian American Identity Group, 3:00 p.m.
Creative Bloc, 3:00 p.m.

Wednesday
The Global Group, 12:00 noon
Good Grief, 12:00 noon
Eating and the Body, 1:00 p.m.
Family Challenge, 3:00 p.m.

Tursday
Queerapy, 1:00 p.m.
DBT Skills Group, 2:00 p.m.
Connections, 3:00 p.m.
Sex and Sexuality, 4:00 p.m.

Friday
Substance Use, 1:00 p.m.
Meditation for RAs (last Friday of each month), 3:00 p.m.

Individual mindfulness sessions are 30 minutes a student can attend up to five sessions. Mindfulness is a technique that helps students develop the capacity to manage anxiety and other challenging experiences more effectively. During mindfulness sessions, students will have an opportunity to speak with a counselor and learn techniques to enhance emotion regulation and comfort.

Problem Management Plus (PM+) is a five-session skills training program developed by the World Health Organization that helps individuals address both practical and emotional problems by teaching strategies to:

• Manage stress
• Manage problems
• Build motivation
• Strengthen social connection and support

Ear seed/bead acupressure is an auriculotherapy treatment based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). This treatment involves attaching flower seeds or magnetic beads to specific locations on the outer ear using medical-grade adhesive tape. Ear seed/bead acupressure is commonly used to relieve stress and trauma (e.g., by the Medical Reserve Corps). It is also known to promote comfort and relaxation. Ear seed/bead packets with easy-to-follow instructions are available to students via mail or in-person pickup at Student Health Services. For more information, please reach out to EarAcupressure@newschool.edu.

For students who are having trouble with or wondering about their alcohol and/or other substance use, BASICS (BASICS for Alcohol and Substance Use Questions) may be a helpful resource. BASICS is a two-session intervention offered through the Department of Psychology and New School Counseling Services.
 
While substance use is common among college students, many students lack personalized and helpful information about reducing the risks associated with alcohol and other substance use.
   
By offering a non-judgmental space for students to explore their alcohol and other substance use and to cultivate awareness of their substance use patterns, BASICS helps students develop ways of reducing the risk of using alcohol and other substances and enhances student well-being.
 
BASICS is available to all New School students who wish to reconsider their drinking and/or substance use habits and potentially make changes. Contact BASICS@newschool.edu.

Healthiest You Virtual Counseling: If you are enrolled in the New School Student Health Insurance Plan (UHCSR), you have free access to board-certified psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, and counselors.

For help with finding mental health services in your community, please fill out this form. The SHS Referrals team will follow up with you within five to ten business days of your request. You can email shsreferrals@newschool.edu with questions about the referral process.