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 University Police should be contacted immediately. University Police should encourage the individual in crisis to either voluntarily seek assistance in the Counseling Center and/or call the Boston Police and EMS to transport the person to Acute Psychiatric Services located at Massachusetts General Hospital or call EMS.
PROCEDURE:
During business hours:
A Counseling Center staff member will take responsibility for determining whether the identified patient should be seen at the Counseling Center or whether he or she should be referred for hospitalization or for a psychiatric evaluation off-campus. In each instance, the 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:
The Counseling Center will provide consultative services to members of the Residence Life and Summer Programs staff and to University Police in ensuring students and other members of the University community who are at risk to self or to others are referred to MGH 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 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 resident assistants involved in managing the emergency. Follow-up consultations with family members, classmates, and faculty/administrators will also be provided, in both individual and small group settings. At the invitation of faculty or at the recommendation of University administrators, members of the 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 Incident Command System Core Team for assistance in processing and resolving the University's response to campus emergencies.
Overview
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