CAPS Help Center: Resources for Dealing with Loss, Disasters, and Traumatic Events
Suicide Awareness
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recently published findings that suicide rates have risen significantly over the past 20 years. These reports were published during the same week of the deaths of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain, both from suicides. If you or your friends at UCSD are experiencing suicidal thoughts, we want you to know that CAPS is here for you. If you have thoughts of suicide, please contact us at 858-534-3755. We are available for walk-in services and consulation. This HelpCenter page also provides numerous campus, community, and online resources.
Suicide Prevention and Awareness Resources
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - (800) 273-8255
- National Crisis Text Line - text HOME to 741741
- American Psychologial Association (APA) webpage on suicide awareness
- Suicide Warning Signs
- Press Release on Anthony Bourdain by American Association of Suicidality
- Press Release on Kate Spade by American Association of Suicidality
- Grief and Loss
- The Road to Resilience
Working Through Tragic Events
Recent tragic events in Florida, Texas, Las Vegas, Virginia, our country, and abroad can be overwhelming. This type of violence is hard to understand and grasp. It is widespread and you may feel afraid and traumatized just viewing the media coverage. The tragic events may challenge your sense of safety, equilibrium, and hope for the future. For some, it will trigger memories and feelings that are difficult to process. These occurrences do elicit many different emotions such as shock, sorrow, numbness, fear, and anger. You may have trouble sleeping, concentrating, and continuing with your coursework.
Here are some tips on managing your emotions and recover your sense of balance:
- Talk about it and ask for support from friends, faculty, and staff.
- Be sensitive to your colleague’s feelings and reactions along with your own emotions.
- Turn off the social media. Give you brain a chance to recuperate and decrease your stress.
- Take care of yourself, exercise, eat normally and try to sleep.
- Call Campus Police or 911 to report any unusual activity.
- If you feel unsafe, be around friends, have someone walk with you across campus and connect with others.
Usually these tips are helpful during the crisis. If you continue to experience emotional distress, please reach out to your Dean of Students, CAPS, or a licensed mental health professional. See below for CAPS and other campus services for assistance. In addition, here are some helpful tips from the American Psychological Association's Helpcenter on dealing with mass shootings, disasters, and other tragic events.
CAPS, Student Affairs, and the UCSD community are here to support those affected by loss or the recent tragic incidents here in the U.S. and abroad. We understand this may be a time of concern and difficulty. Our efforts are to provide you with support, information, and resources to assist you during these challenging times. The American Psychological Association has provided information on Grief and Loss, Managing your Distress about the Earthquake from Afar, Managing Difficult Events and Recovering Emotionally from Disasters. Below is a list of CAPS and campus resources available to you, as well as resources to help with coping.
CAPS Services
- Walk-In/Same-Day Appointments: please indicate to the front desk that you are affected by the disaster, and you will be seen immediately. Call (858) 534-3755 or come directly to Galbraith Hall 190 (Central Office).
- Grief and Loss Group: group for those dealing with loss.
- After-Hours Crisis Counseling: talk to a counselor 24/7, even outside business hours.
- Grief & Loss Pamphlet: handout to provide information on grief, loss, and what you can do for yourself and your friends.
UCSD Campus Resources, Services, and Information
- Chancellor Khosla's Blog: up-to-date information on UCSD's response to the San Diego Fires
- TritonLink: up-to-date information
- Office of Graduate Studies: for graduate students dealing with the disaster.
- International Center: support services for international students.
- Study Abroad Office: support services for UCSD students studying abroad.
- Education Abroad Program (EAP): support services for UCSD students in the EAP program.
- Financial Aid: financial resources
- Colleges: college-specific information
- Faculty/Staff Assistance Program (FSAP): counseling for UCSD faculty, staff, and scholars
- UCSD Blink: Additional information for UCSD Faculty and Staff
American Psychological Association Help Resources
San Diego County Resources
Additional Resources for Students, Faculty, and Staff
Help-Center Resources during Difficult Times
CAPS is available to help and is offering various support services to attend to the needs of the UCSD campus community during times of crisis. We are available to respond as requested on an individual basis or as a collective to assist in providing support, education, and consultation in response to campus, community, or world events. During times of crisis or tragedy, while often finding it difficult to make sense of why the events took place, one may experience a range of reactions and feelings. These feelings are ALL NORMAL REACTIONS TO NON-NORMAL EVENTS. Reactions may include:
- Shock / Numbness / Denial / Vivid dreams or flashbacks / Sadness / Anger / Fear / Difficult concentrating or focusing / Sad / Hopeless / Anxious / Difficulty communicating or reaching out to others
Although reactions to tragic events can be difficult to deal with, CAPS is here to assist you with working through the challenges of coping and working-through the difficulty. At CAPS, we provide the following services to students and the campus community who may be experiencing difficulties in response to a crisis or tragic event:
- Individual Counseling / Same-Day/Urgent Counseling / Group Counseling / Consultation / Crisis Debriefings to organizations or departments / Crisis Intervention / Mindfulness medication / Psychoeducational Workshops
For students or faculty/staff in immediate need of assistance, please call 858-534-3755 or visit our Central Office at Galbraith Hall 190 (below CLICS) from 8:00am-4:30pm to speak with a on-call resource psychologist. For non-business hours, if immediate assistance is needed, please call 858-534-3755 (select Option 2) and ask to speak with the on-call psychological counselor
- PHONE / APPOINTMENTS:
858-534-3755
FAX: 858-534-2628 - CENTRAL OFFICE & URGENT CARE:
Galbraith Hall 190 (Revelle College) - HOURS:
Monday-Friday (excluding holidays)
Business Hours: 8:00am-4:30pm
Urgent Care Hours: 8:00am-4:00pm - MAILING ADDRESS:
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
9500 Gilman Drive, 0304
La Jolla, CA 92093-0304
- URGENT CARE: 8:00am-4:00pm
- CRISIS COUNSELING 24-HRS: 858-534-3755
- EMERGENCIES: Call 911
- NATIONAL SUICIDE HOTLINE: (800) 273-8255