Resources for Students

On this page:

Crisis Resources

If you’re experiencing a mental health crisis:

  • Contact the Counseling and Wellness Center:
    • Walk in Crisis Hours: 9:00-4:00 Monday - Friday, when classes are in session
    • Call Counseling Services at 717-337-6960
  • After Business Hours and on Weekends:
    • Call Campus Safety at 717-337-6911 and ask the operator to connect you to the On Call Counselor
    • Call Wellspan Crisis Services at 717-851-5320
    • Call 911 or go to Gettysburg Hospital Emergency Room at 147 Gettys Street, 6 blocks south of campus
  • Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org
  • If you are a person of color who is feeling stressed, depressed, or anxious, please know you can text STEVE to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor 24/7.
  • If you are part of the LGBTQ community: Click Here to text, call or chat with aThe Trevor Project crisis counselor. This is a free, confidential and secure 24/7 service for individuals struggling with issues such as coming out, LGBTQ identity, depression, and suicide.

If you or someone you care about is in need of counseling services:

Services provided on campus at Gettysburg College:

  • Assessments: Contact us at counseling@gettysburg.edu to schedule a free, confidential consultation appointment with a staff clinician.
  • Therapy: Individual therapy is available free of charge to students for a wide array of presenting issues and mental health conditions. Therapy is typically scheduled on a biweekly basis and on average our student clients are seen for four therapy sessions. Our clinicians are all licensed practitioners or working towards licensure under the supervision of a licensed clinician. Our clinicians are trained in a variety of modalities including, but not limited to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and EMDR.
  • Group counseling: We offer a variety of time limited skill based groups based on the needs of our current student population. Our groups are by referral only.
  • Psychiatry: Your clinician can refer you to our staff psychiatrist or nurse practitioner if they believe you would benefit from medication as part of your treatment plan. These appointments are confidential, free of charge and take place via telemedicine. Psychiatry services are for newly emergent psychiatric conditions and are limited to one year of service with our campus provider.

Finding services outside of Gettysburg College:

  • UWill’s teletherapy platformprovides free access to confidential teletherapy,. Students have access to immediate, secure, and convenient online counseling services. Benefits of UWill:
    • Choose a therapist based on your preferences including area of concern, gender, language, ethnicity and more.
    • Choose a time for therapy that fits your schedule with day, night and weekend availability.
    • Choose your appointment type, video, phone, chat, or message.
    • To get started, click here to find your UWill therapist

Looking for a therapist? Let Thriving Campus do the work for you! Use their search tool, specifically designed for college students, to find a local therapist who meets your unique needs.

To get started, Click Here to find your therapist using Thriving Campus

You can also:

  • Contact your insurance provider for a list of local providers who accept your insurance. Look at your insurance card or insurance-company website for information about how to do so.
  • Contact your primary-care doctor who may be able to provide you with a referral.
  • Contact the College’s ISOS program if you’re going abroad and need a therapist referral overseas.

General Resources

Mental Health Guide for College Students: If you struggle with mental health issues, it can be confusing and isolating. It is also common, especially for college students. This site has a wealth of resources and self-care tips for the most common mental health issues faced by college students.

Seize the Awkward: Are you concerned about a friend's mental health, but don’t know how to start the conversation? This online resource by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and the JED Foundation offers information & tools to empower you to reach out to friends who you are concerned about.

JED Foundation Mental Health Resource Center: The Jed Foundation’s Mental Health Resource Center provides essential information about common mental health issues and shows young adults how they can support one another, overcome challenges, and make a successful transition to adulthood.

ULifeLine is a comprehensive resource for college mental health. In addition to information and resources on most topics, they also have an anonymous Self Evaluator screening tool, which can help you assess whether a treatable mental health problem could be affecting you or a friend.

Go Ask Alice! Q&A Library is a collection of resources that answer many of the questions you’ve been thinking but haven’t dared to ask. It provides readers with reliable, accurate, accessible, culturally competent information and a range of thoughtful perspectives so that they can make responsible decisions concerning their health and well-being. Provided by Columbia University.

Top 5 mental health challenges facing students is an article on BestColleges.com. This guide helps to identify the signs and symptoms of common mental health issues for college students and where and when to seek help.

Substance Use Resources

  • BRAD (be responsible about drinking) includes information on what to do for friends who have too much, effects of alcohol, alcohol and women, etc.
  • Gordie Center of UVA focuses on alcohol facts, hazing and substance misuse among college students.
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse provides drug and drug abuse information.
  • CARON provides substance use disorders related information and resources.
  • Startyourrecovery.org provides information for people who are dealing with substance use issues. including signs, symptoms, conditions, treatment options, and local resources.
  • Al-Anon is for individuals affected by a friend or a family member's drinking or drug use.

Substance Use Screenings Tools

  • Alcohol Screening Self Assessment
  • Check-up & Choices is a free, confidential screener to give you feedback on your drinking.
  • Rethinking Drinking offers research-based information on drinking behaviors and allows you to take a look at your drinking patterns and how they may affect your health.
  • Marijuana Anonymous provides 12 questions to help you determine if marijuana use is a problem in your life. They also offer support for those wanting to quit marijuana use.

Other addictions

  • The New Drug provides information on how pornography consumption affects individuals and relationships.
  • SexHelp offers information about sexual addiction, a screening tool and resource for help.
  • GameQuitters provides information on video game addiction warning signs, causes and a self-assessment tool.

Sexual Assault

Sexual assault is a traumatic experience that can leave those involved with profound long-term psychological effects. Sexual assault survivors may experience a wide range of reactions. Access to early trauma-informed support can mitigate these potential long-term effects. Clinicians at Gettysburg College Counseling and Wellness Services can be a source of support to you. Counseling is free and confidential and is a resource to everybody involved in a sexual assault, including students who have been accused of committing sexual assault.

Sexual assault and relationship violence includes multiple behaviors that occur without consent. For more information on various forms of sexual misconduct, definitions of consent and reporting, we encourage you to visit Gettysburg College’s Office of Sexual Respect and Title IX. Our clinicians can assist you through the process of making a report to the college if you choose to do so.

Resources on Suicide and Suicide Prevention

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Provides data on suicidality, personal stories, access to immediate help and opportunities to get involved in suicide prevention advocacy & outreach. 

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Provides mental health resources for individuals from various communities, access to immediate help, and opportunities to get involved in The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. 

Resources on Eating Disorders

Affinity Specific Resources

Campus resources

Websites

Self-Care Tips

Our mental health and well-being is directly impacted by our self-care. Specifically in the areas of nutrition, exercise and sleep. Here are some important ways to tend to your mental health and well-being:

  • Maintain a regular sleep schedule. Aim to go to sleep and wake up around the same time each day.
  • Small meals throughout the day can be nourishing and enjoyable. Avoid skipping meals altogether.
  • Limit alcohol and caffeine intake.
  • Raise your heart rate with 30 minutes of vigorous movement 3 or more times a week.
  • Spend time outside. Plan to get outside, in nature, especially.
  • Practice deep breathing, relaxation, yoga. Not sure how to do this? Try apps like Headspace, Calm or YouTube!
  • Use your brain to decompress. Engage in activities that require use of your mind and that give you an emotional break: baking, making art, crochet, playing an instrument, puzzles, etc.
  • When’s the last time you had a full belly laugh? Nothing funny happening? YouTube has videos to help!
  • Generosity: Take the focus off of yourself and do something for someone else. If you can’t do it in person, call, text or write.
  • Express gratitude. Write down what you're grateful for, make a mental list on your way to class. Just don’t forget to be thankful. The brain likes it.