Psychological Emergencies at Rutgers-New Brunswick

If you or someone you know has already been hurt, as by taking pills or cutting oneself, call 911 (or from a campus phone dial 9 to get an outside line, then 911) to get emergency medical care and transportation to a hospital.

Psychological emergencies are situations in which someone is in danger of hurting him/herself or others; or when someone is experiencing extreme distress. The distress may be caused by some traumatic event, such as sexual assault or the death or injury of someone close to them; or anything that leaves a person feeling unabIe to cope with everyday life. If it feels like an emergency (for example, if you are afraid you are about to hurt yourself or others, or someone you know is actively suicidal or homicidal), call one of the following:

During the day:

Consult a psychologist at Counseling and Psychological Services (732-932-7884), or one of the other counseling centers, or a psychiatrist at one of the health centers (732-932-7827 X233). Be sure to say that you think it is an urgent situation and say why it is, so you will get the fastest possible attention.

After 5:00p.m. and on weekends:

Call the 24-hour hotline (732-235-5700) professionally staffed by the community mental health center. (NOTE: This is primarily for people in the New Brunswick/Piscataway/Middlesex County area. If you are from another area, please call a hospital emergency room, or look in the "Emergency numbers" section at the front of your telephone directory for a local service.)

For comments on this web-site, contact Mark J. Forest, Ph.D. , or call (732)932-3966.

This page last updated: June 27, 2007.

Rutgers, the State University is an equal opportunity affirmative action institution.