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Mental Health and Suicide Prevention

Mental Health in College

College is full of ups and downs, and sometimes a little extra support is helpful. Whether you are looking to learn more about available mental health resources or are seeking next steps to care for your mental wellbeing, this page will connect you to resources available at the University of Dayton.

The University of Dayton has a comprehensive approach to building a culture of mental wellbeing that includes skill building, support and assistance, clinical resources and crisis response.

Prevention

Whether it's suicide prevention training or learning about coping skills, we know that education is prevention. Learn more about mental health education opportunities at UD.

CADRE

The Center for Alcohol and other Drugs Resources and Education is staffed by licensed chemical dependency counselors that provide services, resources and educational programs to help you make informed and responsible decisions about alcohol and other drugs. Students can go online or call CADRE to schedule a one-on-one meeting to discuss recovery, talk about reducing or abstaining from substance use, or obtain information for a friend or organization. CADRE works with you to develop an action plan to reduce the potential harm from high-risk behaviors and activities.

Campus Recreation

UD Campus Recreation is your hub for physical activity on campus, offering an intentional and extraordinary experience to live healthy and active lives. We motivate, inspire, and empower the UD community to lead healthy, active, and balanced lives with state-of-the-art facilities and engaging programming.

Peer Education

Peer education is a cornerstone of the Brook Center's work. Your voice as a student is the most powerful in our community. Through peer education, our campus community will thrive. Students are supporting their peers through the Co-Pilots (mental health and wellbeing), Q*mmunity Leaders (LGBTQ+ education), and PAVE (peers advocating for violence education). Join us as we work together to make our campus community stronger, happier, and healthier.

REACH

REACH© is a nationally-recognized suicide prevention training program. This in-person training is designed to help our campus community prevent suicide by teaching faculty, staff and students how to: 

Recognize warning signs, Engage with empathy, Ask directly about suicide, Communicate hope, and Help suicidal individuals to access care and treatment.

Seminars on Anxiety, Depression, ADHD and Resilence

The UD Counseling Center offers seminars that introduce helpful, foundational skills and tools for managing depression, anxiety and attention/focus problems. Seminars include:

  • Anxiety and Depression Toolbox Seminar
  • ADHD Toolbox Seminar
  • Resilience Seminar

Intervention

It's normal to need help. Learn more about the support services available to you.

CADRE Counseling

The Center for Alcohol and other Drugs Resources and Education offers meetings between a student and a professional staff member in a nonjudgmental, confidential setting to discuss and examine substance use patterns and learn about risk reduction techniques and abstinence.

Counseling Center

The Counseling Center provides mental health services to UD undergraduate and graduate students. To talk with a mental health professional, you can visit the Counseling Center during drop-in hours. The Counseling Center offers individual therapy, group therapy, crisis services and some limited psychiatry services.

Crisis Text Line

Available 24/7
Text FLYERS to 741741 from anywhere in the United States, anytime. Crisis Text Line is here for you. A live, trained volunteer Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds, all from our secure online platform.

UD Crisis Line

Available After Hours
If you need to talk to a mental health professional on evenings, weekends or a University holiday), call 937-229-3141 and press option “2” to connect with a crisis intervention specialist. If needed, a UD Counseling Center clinician will follow up with you the next business day. Welltrack also provides information about community resources through Welltrack Connect, an online database of mental health providers in the Dayton area and around the U.S.

UD Public Safety

Available 24/7
For medical or life-threatening mental health emergencies, contact Public Safety at 937-229-2121.

Additional Resources

Whether it's navigating an unfamiliar campus for the first time, or navigating a familiar campus in new circumstances, knowing where to start is often the hardest part. We encourage you to utilize existing resources as part of self care that is essential to, and supportive of, your success inside and outside of the classroom.

UD Resources

Off-Campus Resources

The Step Care Model

A Holistic Approach to Mental Health

The Step Care Model is a tool to help you think about your mental health. We are all on a journey with our own mental health, and some days are better than others. In those moments when you are doing well, how do you maintain that? Are you practicing self-care, building your community, and developing your skills to be more prepared during tough times? If things start to get more challenging, are you talking about what's bothering you and using your resources for support? If life feels overwhelming, are you accepting assistance and support and seeking immediate help when needed?

To seek help from others is one of your greatest strengths. It shows that you value yourself and your community by prioritizing what you need to be happy and well. You can't pour from an empty cup and help anyone if you aren't taking care of yourself first. Use this tool to help you think of creative ways to build your own wellbeing.

1. Practice Self Care
  • Learn about the connections between physical and mental health and ways to nourish your body, to include the benefits of nature
  • Engage in prayer, meditation, and mindfulness
  • Get 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day
  • Sleep uninterrupted for 7-8 hours each night
  • Eat a balanced diet including an appropriate amount of water based on individual characteristics such as sex and body weight

2. Build Your Community
  • Build a network of support by joining a University-sponsored organization
  • Participate in intramural sports, sport clubs, group fitness and outdoor recreation (activeflyers.udayton.edu)
  • Establish a connection to the city of Dayton through volunteerism and service
  • Attend UD Late Night events
  • Foster supportive relationships through retreats, mentorship opportunities, research with faculty and campus employment
  • Spend time in identity spaces, such as the MEC Family Room, the Kennedy/Baird LGBTQ+ Student Lounge, the commuter lounge, and the Saragossa Student Lounge in Campus Ministry

3. Develop Your Skills

4. Talk About Your Concerns

5. Utilize Campus Resources

6. Accept Assistance and Support

7. Seek Immediate Help
  • Call Public Safety: 937-229-2121
  • Call 911 (UD campus phones)
  • Counseling Center: 937-229-3141
  • Crisis Text Line: Text FLYERS to 741741
  • Call 988 (Suicide Prevention Lifeline)
  • Seek care at the hospital

Housed in the Division of Student Development, University of Dayton Health and Wellbeing is comprised of the Brook Center, Campus Recreation, Center for Alcohol and Other Drugs Resources and Education, Counseling Center and Student Health Center. If you have questions, please email healthandwellbeing@udayton.edu.