For Faculty and Staff

The Counseling Center treats all of our contacts with students confidentially and in accord with the state of North Carolina mental health code. We cannot disclose any information about a student’s pursuit or engagement in treatment unless a student authorizes a release of information. Deviating from this process is only ever considered when a student is assessed to be in immediate danger. 

It is also important to acknowledge that any of our records are completely separate from a student’s academic record. 

If you are concerned about a student, you are welcome to share those concerns with us so we can use that information in any sort of treatment we provide. Most importantly, in these situations, the best step is to complete a CARES referral to activate campus wraparound support for students who may be experiencing or struggling with a variety of challenges.

Faculty and staff are always welcome to contact the counseling center at 919.515.2423 when they are looking for a supportive consultation. The most common reason to contact the counseling center for a consultation would be when you have concern for a student’s mental health or wellbeing or notice a significant change in behavior in one of your students and are looking for the best next steps. In these situations, it is also recommended that you complete a CARES referral to activate additional campus community support for the student.

Community outreach is a significant part of the counseling center’s services, as it brings important mental health and wellness information into their day-to-day spaces. Outreach opportunities range from catered class presentations, to access focused tabling, to providing clinical support presence during events that may warrant it. In connection with the wide range of applicable topics on a college campus and the Counseling Center staff’s diverse interests, we offer programming and classroom presentations on a range of issues. NC State’s Embedded Counselors routinely provide catered presentations to their dedicated populations, including academic colleges and campus partners.

To request outreach or presence from counselors, please complete the outreach request form or reach out directly to your Embedded Counselor.

 If you are ever in a situation where you have immediate concerns about a student who may be in imminent risk; please dial 911 or call the Campus Police directly at 919.515.3000. Imminent risk would be a situation where a student has expressed intent to harm or kill themselves in the immediate future.

In a situation where you are with a student who has expressed that they are having suicidal thoughts or don’t feel safe with themselves, please call the counseling center directly for guidance at 919.515.2423.

Making a great referral to the counseling center starts way before students may “need” its services. Making students aware of the highly utilized Counseling Center Services will allow them to gain education and utilize support before their situation has significant impacts on their functioning and overall NC State experience.

Please read the following steps for success:

1. Familiarize yourself (at least generally) with our services and website.
2. Share these resources with your students early in your interactions and of course when they request support, or you notice they may be struggling
   1. When a student indicates they are struggling and looking for help, reaffirm the use of the counseling center and connect them to our website.
   2. Normalize the utilization of counseling center services at college campuses across the nation.
3. If you have concerns that a student won’t follow through with seeking services and would like to consult, please reach out to us directly at 919.515.2423 to express your concerns and/or complete a CARES referral.
4. After any conversation with a student about our services, it is often greatly appreciated by the student for you to follow up and ask if they were able to find what they needed.

Students are directed to our Make an Appointment page, in which they will be prompted to complete their initial paperwork. The paperwork portal is open from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and it’s best to set aside about 20 to 30 minutes for completion of the paperwork.

After completing the paperwork, students meet with a counselor for a “triage session” in which the counselor explores the student’s concerns and preferences for services and will make recommendations for the best next steps. Triage sessions can often occur on the same day paperwork is completed or at a later time of their choosing.

Following the “triage session,” and depending on the services chosen, the student will be provided with an appointment time and next steps for any ongoing services. This could include individual, group or couples therapy, psychiatric services, referral to workshops or drop-in spaces or referral to community providers.

Occasionally, students will tell you they have a learning or psychological disability and request special academic accommodations. In these circumstances, a referral to the Disability Resources Office at 919.515.7653 or (TTY) 919.515.8830 would be appropriate. The Disability Resource Office will make specific recommendations regarding reasonable academic accommodations.

If you are a staff or faculty member who is looking for more training on how to recognize warning signs related to suicide as well as helping students get the support they need, please connect with the Prevention Office to set up a QPR Training