Crisis Services & Resources

• Name and USF ID number
• Phone number of the student or someone else on the scene who can be called
• Current physical location
• Nature of the crisis (e.g., suicide risk, violence risk, panic attack)

During Business Hours:

• California-Residing Students: Call CAPS Office (415-422-6352) to make a crisis appointment the same day, or call CAPS All Hours Line 24/7 (855-531-0761) to speak with a therapist immediately.
• Faculty/Staff/Friends/Family: Use the Care Referral Program through the Dean of Students Office or call them at (415) 422-5330.  You can also call CAPS during business hours (415-422-6352) to get advice from a therapist.
• If a student is at immediate risk of harming themselves or others, or is experiencing psychosis, ask them to have someone nearby who can help take them to the nearest emergency room, call 911 and ask for a Crisis Intervention Trained officer, or call USF Public Safety 24/7 (415-422-2911) even if the student is not on campus, as Public Safety can contact local emergency services and student’s emergency contact.

Outside of Business Hours:

• Students: Call CAPS All Hours Line 24/7 (855-531-0761) to speak with a therapist immediately.
• Faculty/Staff/Friends/Family: Use the Care Referral Program through  the Dean of Students office or call the CAPS All Hours Line 24/7 (855-531-0761) for advice from a therapist.
• If a student is at immediate risk of harming themselves or others, or is experiencing psychosis, ask them to have someone nearby who can help take them to the nearest emergency room, call 911 and ask for a Crisis Intervention Trained officer, or call USF Public Safety 24/7 (415-422-2911) even if the student is not on campus, as Public Safety can contact local emergency services and student’s emergency contact.

• CAPS All Hours: (855) 531-0761 Confidential Mental Health Support and Consultation. Available 24 hours daily, including weekends and most holidays. 
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call or text 988; 24-hour free and confidential support for people in distress and prevention and resources for people in crisis or their loved ones. The Lifeline is made up of a national network of more than 150 local crisis centers.
• Crisis Text Line: 24-hour crisis counseling by trained peer counselors via text message or Facebook Messenger. In the U.S. or Canada, text HOME to 741741. People of color wishing to text with a counselor of color can text STEVE to 741741. 
• Hospital Emergency Departments: If you cannot keep yourself safe due to a mental health crisis, go to one of the hospital emergency departments in the linked list for help.
• Mobile Crisis Services: Some counties have a mobile crisis team, a team of mental health professionals who can consult by phone and/or come to the location of a mental health crisis to provide assessment and referral to services. Mobile crisis services can serve as an alternative to calling 911, when these services are available.
• SF Women Against Rape (SFWAR): (415) 647-7273; 24-hour hotline that provides support, information, and resources for survivors of rape and sexual assault and their friends, family members, and others. Assists survivors of all genders and sexual identities.
• San Francisco Department of Public Health Behavioral Health Services 24/7 Access Helpline: (415) 255-3737 or (888) 246-3333; 24-hour phone crisis support and assistance arranging to see a counselor within 48 hours for San Francisco residents.
• San Francisco Suicide Prevention Hotline: (415) 781-0500; 24-hour phone counseling and referrals for people who are depressed and suicidal. Translation services available.
• The Trevor Project: (866) 488-7386; 24/7 suicide prevention resources for LGBTQ youth ages 13 to 24; to text with a counselor 24/7, text START to 678678. From the Trever Project website, you can also chat with a counselor.
• USF Public Safety: Call (415) 422-2911 or extension 2911 from an on-campus landline when your safety or someone else's is at risk or you need other assistance from a USF Public Safety officer. Call 911 for local police.
• Westside Community Crisis Clinic: (415) 355-0311; drop-in mental health crisis care and and referrals at 1153 Oak Street, San Francisco for low-income San Francisco residents 18 and older. Open Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 6:00 pm and Saturday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. The Crisis Clinic is designed to stabilize those in crisis and refer them to an appropriate source for follow-up treatment.
• 免費心理急助熱線(提供中文服務): 415-781-0500
• 普通话服务的心理急助单位.pdf

If you do not feel suicidal but just need someone to talk to about mental health and personal concerns, you can call the Mental Health Association of San Francisco "Warm Line" at (855) 845-7415 or visit their website to chat with a trained volunteer counselor (Sundays 7 am–9 pm, Mondays–Fridays 7 am–11 pm, and Saturdays 7 am–3 pm).

Registered USF students experiencing a psychological emergency may call CAPS during business hours (Mon–Fri, 8:30 am–5 pm) at (415) 422-6352 to request a crisis appointment or call the All Hours line any time at (855) 531-0761 to talk to a professional therapist. Faculty, staff, and others who are with a student in crisis can also call. During the COVID pandemic, please don't walk in to the CAPS office without calling ahead, as receiving your call gives us time to decide on the best course of action.

Students in crisis will be seen the same day, typically within an hour or two. This is similar to going to the ER for a medical emergency. See the "What Is a Crisis?" drop-down section for what constitutes a crisis.

During a crisis appointment, the therapist will assess the situation and collaboratively make a plan for the student to get help (frequently involving services outside of CAPS).

Anyone concerned about a USF student's mental health can consult about the situation with CAPS during business hours or call All Hours any time at (855) 531-0761 to consult with a therapist.  Elsewhere on our website, we provide additional information for faculty and staff about supporting students and when to refer them to CAPS.

The following chart helps distinguish crises from non-crisis situations. Please note that "non-crisis" does not mean your concerns are not important. If a student needs CAPS services but is not in crisis, we will attempt to set up a non-crisis appointment as soon as possible, but same-day meetings cannot be guaranteed.