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PSYCHOLOGICAL EMERGENCIES

POLICY:  

When a student, employee, or other person on the University campus is observed exhibiting unusual or dangerous behavior, which could result in serious bodily harm to self or to others, the Suffolk University Police Department (SUPD) should be contacted immediately at 617-573-8111.

Employee intervention

SUPD may call the Boston Police and will call Boston EMS to assess the employee for transport to Acute Psychiatric Services located at the Massachusetts General Hospital Emergency Department. Human Resources will be notified by SUPD.

Student intervention

After assessing the situation, University Police should encourage the individual student in crisis to either voluntarily seek assistance in the Counseling Center or to be seen by a Counseling Center psychologist on site of the emergency. If the individual refuses to seek assistance as recommended, the University Police should make an immediate referral to Emergency Services at New England Medical Center (NEMC).
PROCEDURE: 
During business hours:
, Health & Wellness (CHW) Counseling Center and escort the student to the CHW Center and/or call Boston EMS to assess the student for transport to Acute Psychiatric Services located at the Massachusetts General Hospital Emergency Department. SUPD will notify the Dean of Students office regarding their response to student psychological crises. CHW will follow their policies on voluntary and involuntary commitments.

During business hours for student interventions:

If transported to CHW Counseling, a CHW A Counseling Center staff member will take responsibility for determining assessing whether the identified patient student should be seen receive services at the CHW Counseling Center or whether he or she the student should be referred for hospitalization or for a psychiatric evaluation off-campus. In each instance, the CHW Counseling Center shall assume responsibility for evaluating the student, overseeing the referral to a designated treatment facility, and, if appropriate, for future case management.

During evening hours and on-weekends for student interventions:

The Counseling Center CHW Counselor on Call will provide consultative services to members of the Residence Life and Summer Programs and Dean of Students staff and to University Police in ensuring that students and other members of the University community regarding students who are at risk to self or to others are referred to New England Medical Center and needed steps for appropriate medical and/or mental health treatment. 

Once the safety of a student or member of the University community with a psychological emergency has been assured, members of the staff of the CHW Counseling Center will be available when appropriate to provide necessary after-care services. Those services may include on-site psychological support for individuals and groups affected by the emergency, including roommates, suitemates, and floor mates of the student in crisis, as well as for the residential resident assistants involved in managing the emergency. Follow-up consultations with family members, classmates, and faculty/administrators regarding a student situation will also be provided, in both individual and small group settings, as appropriate. At the invitation of faculty or at the recommendation of University administrators, including the Dean of Students, members of the CHW Counseling Center staff will also be available to speak to classes on issues related to crisis management and crisis resolution. The Director of the Counseling Center will also provide appropriate and necessary information to the Crisis Management Incident Support Team for assistance in processing and resolving the University's University’s response to campus emergencies.