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Mental Health & Suicide Prevention

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Currently in Crisis?

Someone is available to talk to you 24/7 at these resources

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 the mental health resources that are available or are seeking next steps to care for your mental wellbeing, this page will connect you to the various 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. This comprehensive resource document outlines this information through a Mental Health Roadmap.

Resources for Students

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. Below is information for students to connect with the resources they need.


Resources for Specific Concerns

Who do I go to if....?

If you feel that you are at immediate risk of harm to yourself, please call 911 or go the nearest hospital emergency room (at UD, this would be Miami Valley Hospital or Kettering Hospital). 

There are also many crisis resources available to you – if it’s during business hours, you can call the Counseling Center at 937-229-3141 or just walk into Gosiger Hall (first floor). If it’s after hours, you can call 937-229-3141 and press option “2” to talk with a crisis therapist. You can also reach a crisis counselor 24/7 by calling the national hotline by dialing “988”, or texting “FLYERS” to 741741.

It’s not uncommon for people at some point in their lives to be struggling with suicidal thoughts, feelings of hopelessness, or worries that they won’t start feeling better. Help is available. The Counseling Center provides free, confidential mental health services to support any student that is struggling. If you feel that you’re safe to wait, you can come through Drop-In Hours to connect with a mental health professional.


  • Visit the Student Transitions and Family Programs page
  • Your academic advisor is a great resource to help you sort through all of the new challenges of college. You can email advising@udayton.edu, and someone will get you in touch with your advisor or your dean’s office.
  • The Counseling Center offers a group called Coping with College. This group will focus on providing weekly drop-in support as well as strategies to make the best of your college experience. To connect with this or other groups offered by the Counseling Center, visit Gosiger Hall during UDCC drop-in hours.
  • Resident Assistant
  • MEC - Multi Ethnic Education and Engagement Center

The Dean of Students Office can help connect you with on and off campus resources to support your immediate and long-term needs, and you can email them at deanofstudents@udayton.edu to set-up a meeting.

Students are welcome to visit the the Food4Flyers Food Pantry during open hours for additional support.


  • Center for Student Involvement - Student Organizations
  • Campus Ministers can be great resources to help you connect with other students and to build community through small groups, campus retreats, and other opportunities to build friendships based on shared values and/or interests.
  • The Counseling Center offers a group called Understanding Self and Others. The group is a great opportunity to meet peers and we often discuss ways to make connections on campus. To connect with this or other groups offered by the Counseling Center, visit Gosiger Hall during UDCC drop-in hours.
  • Global and Intercultural Affairs Center - The Global and Intercultural Affairs Center can help connect US and international students through peer to peer programs. Make friends with students from all over the world!
  • CADRE - Students often feel pressure to drink in order to develop social relationships or a sense of belonging. CADRE is here to assist you in assessing your values and goals and provide feedback/resources to support you in developing healthy and successful experiences and relationships, including peer-led Flyer IMPACT.
  • The Brook Center - Project Connect is a peer-run community-building group in which participants meet for 6 sessions to discuss a series of thought-provoking questions, compete a mini connection project, and go out for a meal or coffee.

  • The Counseling Center offers drop-in services where students can discuss a specific concern, such as not feeling supported by family, or talk more generally about what therapy has to offer. 
  • Campus Ministers provide a listening ear and sounding board as you seek additional support and navigate changing relationships at home.

  • The Counseling Center offers an Anxiety & Depression Toolbox Seminar (ADTS), comprised of three one-hour meetings designed to provide education and strategies for increased effective coping with stress and anxiety. To learn more, visit Gosiger Hall during UDCC drop-in hours.

  • College is an exciting time but it is a major transition which can be difficult. The Counseling Center offers a group called Coping with College. The group is a great opportunity to meet peers and discuss the many challenges students experience. To connect with this or other groups offered by the Counseling Center, visit Gosiger Hall during UDCC drop-in hours.
  • Campus Ministers welcome the opportunity to get to know you and to hear your family stories. We provide a listening ear and can help you navigate the changes you are experiencing in family relationships, connect with a family of faith or find spiritual support during this time.

Center for Alcohol and other Drug Resources and Education - CADRE’s licensed counselors can support you in evaluating your current use and assist you in setting up a plan to reduce risks associated with alcohol or other drug use with a focus on the presenting problem, stress, and strategies to manage stress more effectively.

Off Campus Resources:


  • The Counseling Center is a confidential resource on campus which can provide support and explore options for students who experience discrimination. Visit the Counseling Center during UDCC drop-in hours to speak with a provider. 
  • Campus Ministers will be sensitive to your concerns and will support you as you navigate the complexities of your situation. Campus Ministry’s ordained ministers (including Fr. Kip Stander and Fr. Tom Schroer) also serve as confidential resources on campus.
  • The Dean of Students Office can help you think through your options for seeking help, including considering your options, seeking confidential support, and/or your options for reporting, if you choose.  Contact deanofstudents@udayton.edu to set up a meeting.
  • The Equity Compliance Office is here to provide options and support resources for any experiences of bias, discrimination, or harassment. We will work with students to address any fears they may have from attending a large gathering, but at the end of the day, want students to feel safe and welcome on campus. We also provide anonymous consultations by phone at 937-229-3622.

If you need immediate medical attention, you can call 911, Public Safety (229-2121), or go to a local hospital. 

You can report your experience to any of these UD offices: 

  • The Equity Compliance Office can assist with reporting options, interim measures and identifying other available assistance. 937-229-3622
  • Students can also seek assistance from the Dean of Students office (937-229-1212), and/or Sexual Violence Prevention & Education & LGBTQ+ Education, located in the Brook Center (937-229-1292).

You can report your experience confidentially to these individuals:

  • Licensed mental health providers at the Counseling Center (937-229-3141 or stop by the front desk in Gosiger Hall during business hours, M-F 8:30 am - 4:30 pm).
  • Physicians at the Health Center at 229-3131 - Physicians at the health center are confidential sources of care. We can provide an exam to look for STD's, follow-up testing (including after an ER visit), and referrals for support. If someone is interested in prosecution, we would encourage early reporting to Public Safety and an examination at the Emergency Department for evidence collection.
  • Campus Ministry’s ordained ministers (including Fr. Kip Stander, Fr. Tom Schroer, and Rev. Renita Green), https://www.udayton.edu/ministry

The following are off-campus resources:

  • Artemis Center 24 Hour Crisis Hotline 937-461-HELP (4357) TTY 461-7910 on the web at www.artemiscenter.org
  • RAINN confidential sexual assault hotline 800-656-4673 www.rainn.org
  • Montgomery County Prosecutor 24 Hour Sexual Assault Hotline 937-225-5623
  • Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) forensic examinations are available at both Miami Valley Hospital and Kettering Medical Center emergency departments. www.saneofbutlercounty.org
  • YWCA 24/7 Hotline 937-222-SAFE (7233) or chat at ywcadayton.org.

The UD Counseling Center (UDCC) offers one-time sessions, ongoing group and individual therapy, and crisis services to all UD undergraduate and graduate students. Ongoing services are entirely free of charge to all undergraduate students and some graduate programs. Drop-In Hours are entirely free to all undergraduate and graduate students, regardless of program, and are the easiest way to connect to a mental health professional. No appointment is needed for Drop-In Hours.


  • MEC - Multi Ethnic Education & Engagement Center
  • Brook Center (LGBTQ+ Education) - As part of the Brook Center's mission to support students' holistic wellbeing, LGBTQ+ Education offers students opportunities to connect with LGBTQ+ identifying individuals, as well as those who are committed to allyship. Whether you're just looking to connect, or looking for ways to get more deeply involved, we can help you identify what will best meet your needs and goals.
  • Military and Veteran Programs and Services - MVPS exists to serve the UD military and veteran community. This community is made up of those who currently or have previously served in the Armed Forces of the United States and their families. Responsibilities include veteran transition to higher education, support to students who balance their education with ongoing military duty, enrollment and retention, benefits advising, and community outreach. MVPS is the “First Stop Shop” for all UD military and veteran community members.
  • Campus Ministers are invested in knowing and honoring students in all their identities and as such we are often able to help connect students who are seeking to meet others with similar identities.
  • The Women's Center provides a space for all students who are committed to gender and social justice issues, to connect, foster relationships with one another, and work collaboratively to advance gender equity at UD and beyond. We welcome individuals of all genders to visit our space, deepen their understanding of the ways in which gender intersects with their daily lives, and take meaningful action to create a more inclusive community. We offer programs, student volunteer opportunities, and resources to support our entire campus community.  
  • Students in or seeking recovery support can reach out to CADRE @ go.udayton.edu/cadre.  One of our  licensed counselors will be happy to provide support or connect you with resources in the community.  In addition, CADRE offers Recovery Ally (RISH) and Transforming How Recovery is Viewed Everywhere (THRIVE) training for students seeking to gain information and/or be allies for other students in recovery

CADRE - Center for Alcohol and other Drug Resources and Education

The following are off-campus resources:

  • Al-Anon: al-anon.org
  • Families of Addicts (FOA): foafamilies.org
  • National Association of Children of Addiction (NACoA): nacoa.org

Grief can show up in many ways in your life, including brain fog, physical symptoms, withdrawing from family and friends, difficulty communicating how you are feeling, apathy toward things you typically care about and losing focus. It’s important to recognize the signs and to take care of yourself in these moments.

Visit the Essentia Health to see some ideas for how to engage in self care when you are grieving.

There is a difference between self care and self sabotage.  Self care helps you move forward in healthy ways, such as speaking to a counselor, going for a walk, sharing stories, or journaling.  Self-sabotage hurts you in the long run, and might feel good in the moment, but doesn’t help you in the long term. This includes blacking out due to substances, avoidance, skipping classes, or oversleeping. We encourage you to focus on self-care. If you are looking for ideas or want to connect with another student about how you can incorporate self care into your routine, consider meeting with a Co-Pilot.

There are resources that can help.

  • Counseling Center - Visit UDCC during Drop-In Hours.
  • YOU@Dayton is a 24/7 wellbeing resource that includes great information about mental health.  We encourage you to search for “grief” to learn more about how to take steps forward when managing loss.  
  • Grief Group - support group via Campus Ministry and Counseling Center
  • Student Health Center - It’s common for people who are grieving to experience physical symptoms, such as migraines, headaches, sleep problems, anxiety, and depression. If you find that you are experiencing physical symptoms as you grieve, please contact the Student Health Center to schedule an appointment at 229-3131.
  • Dean of Students Office - Case Managers are available to provide support and resources to students navigating grief. They can help with academic, mental health, and other challenges.
  • Campus Ministry - Turning to your faith is a critical aspect of healing for many.  Reach out to a campus minister to walk with you along your healing journey.
  • Find a quiet space on campus to reflect, such as the Chapel of Immaculate Conception, Serenity Pines, or the Mindfulness Room and the Quiet Cubes at ArtStreet. The Mindfulness Room is a space where you can be in quiet reflection in community, while the Quiet Cubes are sound proof spaces designed to give you a quiet space to just be. Swing by to enjoy these quiet, reflective spaces.
  • It’s important to lean on the people that are important to you. Turn to faculty, staff, and friends that you have important relationships with, so that you can share memories and consider next steps forward together. 

Other Online Resources: