Mental Health Crisis

Crisis Support at UCSF SMHW

Immediate Crisis Support:

If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, it’s important to know that help is available immediately. Our Urgent Contact services are designed to provide you with the urgent care you need to navigate through challenging times.

What Constitutes a Crisis?

A mental health crisis can include situations such as:

  • Intense emotional distress or anxiety
  • Passive suicidal thoughts or actions (non-life-threatening)
  • Severe depression, e.g., feel unable to function, get out of bed, eat, shower
  • Have experienced a traumatic event
  • Concerns for personal safety or the safety of others

If you are in a life-threatening crisis situation, or the crisis you are calling about involves a life-threatening situation, call 911 (or 9-911 from campus phone) or go to the nearest ER. To find a local ER, see ER Locations in SF.

During Business Hours

SMHW may intervene by speaking directly to the person(s) in crisis, generally in person or by a virtual visit. We may also provide consultation with parents, friends, faculty/staff or other campus agencies who have contacted SMHW about crisis situations. 
 
If you are a currently enrolled UCSF student experiencing a non-life-threatening, urgent issue, call SMHW at (415) 476-1281 and ask to schedule an urgent telehealth visit with a mental health provider. 

After Hours

Mental Health Consult Line: If you are experiencing an urgent mental health issue, call (415) 476-1281, option 2 to speak with a mental health provider over the phone. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days week, including holidays, and is staffed by non-SMHW counselors who are there to support students and UC SHIP enrollees with a mental health concern.

If you are out of the country and experiencing a mental health crisis, call a Bluecard PPO provider or visit a local health care provider in your area.

Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1.800.273.TALK (8255)

NAMI Mobile Crisis Treatment Team

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) San Francisco has created a Mobile Crisis Treatment Team (MCTT) to provide intervention for San Franciscans. MCTT is an emergency crisis intervention service that offers immediate treatment or triage for voluntary individuals suffering from emotional crisis or symptoms of acute psychiatric illness. MCTT will triage patients at their location, and will provide brief crisis treatment and follow-up care or resources as needed.  
For more information, visit NAMI San Francisco Mobile Crisis Treatment Team or call 415-970-4000.

Additional Campus Crisis Resources