Counseling Services COVID Information
Special Notice Related to COVID-19
The office of CCS is open for serving students and the Butler community remotely. We recognize that during this time of change many may feel uncertainty and fear along with a host of other emotions. There may be concerns that affect your decisions about how to best manage your health and the health of those around you. In an effort to support you we have drafted a list of coping techniques and support resources to manage stress and anxiety that are attached to this message. Additionally, as updates continue to emerge regarding COVID-19, Butler University is monitoring the situation and meeting regularly to review local, state, and national health agency reports and assess preparedness plans. Please regularly review the Butler Univeristy COVID-19 Information to learn of any updates.
- Counseling and Consultation Services continues to be available by phone (317-940-9385) for students to initiate consultation and therapeutic services.
- We are providing teletherapy for students residing in Indiana, and we are available to assist out of state students with consultations and referrals to providers licensed to practice in the state in which they reside.
- All students may access our database of local off-campus mental health providers at butler.thrivingcampus.com
- For non-scheduled, drop-in conversations with one of our staff, check out our Let’s Talk Program for days and times.
- In the case of an emergency, CCS would like to remind you of some of the local and national 24-hour crisis options available. These include St. Vincent Stress Center (317-338-4800), Community Health (317-621-5700), and the national suicide hotline (800-273-8255). These and other resources can also be found on the Counseling and Consultation Services website.
CCS has an office designated for students to reserve for their therapy appointments. Call our office to reserve this space. Students may also reserve other space around campus, such as library study spaces, through the campus Event Management System (EMS). Finally, students can check with their RA or Residence Life about private areas within the residence halls that might be available to them.
Check out brief self-care tips from CCS staff members to cope during the stay-at-home period of the pandemic.
- Keep things in perspective. It is okay and normal to have some worry about COVID-19; however keeping things in perspective can help to manage this. The fact that coverage is increasing on this issue does not necessarily mean that it presents an increased threat to you or your family. Often anxiety increases when we face new or unknown challenges. All of us have experienced a new or unknown challenge thus we are not alone in this. Reflect on what you have done in the past to support you in times like this and share supportive and resilience building resources with each other via phone and video calls.
- Manage information sources and get the facts. Looking for reliable fact-based sources and decreasing engagement with fear-based sources. It is helpful to adopt a more analytical approach as you follow news reports about the coronavirus. You will also want to verify information that you receive from family, friends or social media. A few options are:
- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- World Health Organization
- Indiana state government page for those in the Indiana area. For those outside of Indiana reviewing the appropriate state government page for the area you are in.
- Communicate with your social support system and promote hope between each other. Focusing on routines, schedules and preparedness plans can help decrease distress. Fostering a sense of normalcy and providing a valuable outlet for sharing feelings and relieving stress. You can maintain these connections without increasing your risk of getting the virus by talking on the phone, texting or chatting with people on social media platforms. Feel free to share useful information you find on government websites with your friends and family. It will help them deal with their own anxiety.
- Seek additional help when necessary. Individuals feeling they are in crisis during this time can reach out crisis support services. Utilizing online and call-in options helps to reduce exposure. Please review below list for options. If you are feeling you are in immediate danger or crisis calling 911 is an option.
- Practice Patience and Be Kind. Many are experiencing stress during this time and a little extra patience and kindness can go a long way. Using skills from mindfulness and meditation practices along with reminding yourself that people are working to respond to concerns as quickly as possible may be helpful.
- CCS’s Mental Health Resource and Referral pages
- Includes on and off campus resources, crisis hotlines contact info, and helpful apps and websites to explore
- Distress Hotline
- This is a 24/7, 365-day-a-year, national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster, including infectious disease outbreaks.
- This toll-free, multilingual, and confidential crisis support service is available to all residents in the United States and its territories.
- Stress, anxiety, and other depression-like symptoms are common reactions after a disaster.
- Call 1-800-985-5990 (tel:1-800-985-5990) or text the phrase “TalkWithUs” to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.
- Emotional-Support Help Line
- Free access to specially trained mental health specialists to support people who may be experiencing anxiety or stress following the recent developments around COVID-19.
- Provided by Optum
- The toll-free help line number, 866-342-6892, will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for as long as necessary.
- The service is free of charge and open to anyone.
- SAMHSA’s National Helpline
- also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service.
- They are a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, substance use and information service
- English and Spanish.
- They can also be reached via phone at 1-800-662-HELP (4357), or TTY: 1-800-487-4889
- National alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Help Line
- NAMI provides advocacy, education, support and public awareness so that all individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives
- They can also be reached Monday through Friday, 10 am–6 pm, ET. 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or info@nami.org
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
- 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.
- Contact them by calling (800) 273-TALK (8255).
- HealthiestYou
- A teletherapy option available for free for students on the Butler student health insurance plan United Healthcare, or for a fee for students not on this plan.
- Download the HealthiestYou app or call 855-870-5858.
- The Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
- Guidance on managing mental health and coping during COVID-19 for children and caregivers, as well as guidance for higher education administrators.
- The Hope Center
- Outlined resources for supporting college students during this crisis.
- Anxiety and Depression Association of America Psychologist Jelena Kecmanovic
- Provides some science-based strategies and tips for coping with COVID-19 anxiety
- Living with Worry and Anxiety Amidst Global Uncertainty
- Mental health apps
- Calm
- Headspace
- Sanvello
If the teletherapy options available through CCS do not fit your needs, we encourage you to seek alternative services off campus. We are available by phone to help you find such alternatives, and all students, faculty, and staff may access our database of local off-campus mental health providers at butler.thrivingcampus.com. Here are a few additional resources for conducting a search for mental health care:
- Requesting support from your insurance company to find an in-network provider list, teletherapy options, and coverage for services
- APA’s Psychologist locator tool
- Psychology today’s Find a therapist tool
- All communities have a local community mental health center (CMHC) available to provide services to the community.
- Check your local resource for availability.
- For local students, Aspire Indiana Health is a local CMHC that offers teletherapy services.