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Crisis support at CAPS
24/7 Support: Call CAPS at (831) 459-2628 anytime.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a life-threatening emergency, please call 911.
Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) primarily operates by appointment. However, we understand that students may experience urgent crises or distressing situations that require immediate attention. If you are experiencing emotional or psychological distress and are unsure whether it qualifies as a crisis, please review the examples.
Examples of immediate crisis situations:
- Thoughts of harming yourself or others
- Disturbing experiences (e.g., hearing voices or seeing things others don’t)
- Recent physical or sexual assault
- Being hurt, abused, or threatened—or concern for someone who is
- Difficulty coping with the recent death of someone close
- Inability to meet basic needs (e.g., feeding yourself) due to a serious mental health issue
- Concern about a UCSC student experiencing one of the above and unsure how to help
If any situation is life-threatening, call 911 or go to the nearest urgent care or emergency room. This includes:
- Adverse reactions to a prescribed medication
- Drug or alcohol-related crises
- Any situation where someone’s life or health is in immediate danger
How to get help
- During business hours, call (831) 459-2628 to request a same-day crisis appointment.
- After hours, weekends, or holidays, call the same number and select option “3” to speak with an on-call crisis counselor for immediate phone support, safety planning, and referrals.
- Reach out to the Campus Mobile Crisis Team during their hours of operation for in-person support at (831) 502-9988.
If you’re not in crisis but want to initiate services as soon as possible, call to schedule an initial appointment. This in-person visit helps us understand your needs and connect you with the most appropriate care.
Concerned about someone else?
Staff, faculty, friends, and family can contact us for support or consultation regarding a UCSC student in distress. Learn how to help someone experiencing an urgent mental health concern.
Resources
Crisis Assistance Hotlines
Need after-hours crisis help? Help is available in the U.S. and internationally.
How to help students in distress
This section offers staff, faculty, family, and loved ones practical tips to support students facing emotional distress and to help them care for their mental health and well-being.
Campus Mobile Crisis Team
CMCT offers mobile crisis support, wellness checks, and CAPS referrals to help UCSC students on campus.