Crisis intervention
While most of the Counseling Center’s services are scheduled on an appointment basis, crisis situations do arise and require immediate intervention.
Crisis intervention may be needed if a student is having suicidal feelings, experiencing severe feelings of anxiety or learning of the death of a loved one.
Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to contact the Counseling Center if someone they know needs immediate help.
Weekday services
The Counseling Center is open from 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. If a crisis situation occurs, contact the Counseling Center and request to speak to the on-call counselor to make a plan of action. This might include a walk-in appointment (offered at 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. daily) or referral to another on or off campus resource.
For on-campus mental health emergencies, contact the UMKC Counseling Center at 816-235-1635.
Evening and weekend services
If a crisis intervention is required after the Counseling Center’s normal business hours, or if a student is concerned about his or her immediate safety or the safety of a friend, they should:
- Go to the nearest hospital emergency room
- Call 911
- Call Campus Police at 816-235-1515
Students living on campus can also contact their resident assistant or residential life staff who can guide the student to appropriate resources.
Response to traumatic events
Center staff is available to confer with you and develop an on-site response to traumatic events with any affected group.
Reporting incidents or patterns of distressed, disturbing or disruptive behavior
Faculty and staff are encouraged to present patterns and individual incidents of distressed, disturbing and disruptive behavior to the University’s Case Management Team (CMT).
The CMT’s goal is to develop campus wide training modules that faculty and staff can use to deal with student issues or more information or to make a referral, e-mail Jeff Traiger, Ph.D., assistant dean of students, or call him at 816-235-5661.