Suicide and Mental Health Emergencies

If you are experiencing a crisis or need to talk to someone, please call Counseling and Psychological Services at (703) 993-2380 or dial 911.

In case of an emergency, dial 911 from an on campus or cellular phone. If dialed from a campus phone, campus police will be the first responders. If dialing from an outside or mobile phone, let the dispatcher know that you are on the George Mason University Campus.

    • During office hours (8:30 am-5:00 pm) call (703) 993-2380 or come to the office in SUB 1 Rm 3129 (3rd Floor)
    • If CAPS is not open, contact the Mason Police at (703) 993-2810 or dial 911. 
  • Mason Cares
    Mason CARES is a program that supports suicide prevention and mental health awareness efforts at George Mason University. We call this effort our G8Keeper campaign. Mason CARES talks about suicide to educate the Mason Community on how to:

    • recognize and respond to those in crisis
    • increase awareness and knowledge of available resources in regards to suicide prevention, mental health, and wellness
    • help change the perceptions most people have concerning mental health by circulating positive images of mental illness and promoting help-seeking behaviors
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifelife: 1-800-273-TALK(8255)
    No matter what problems you are dealing with, we want to help you find a reason to keep living. By calling you’ll be connected to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area, anytime 24/7.

Are you concerned about a friend or peer?

Research tells us that students are much more likely to confide in their peers first when in crisis than consult a mental health professional.  You are in a pivotal position to recognize and intervene early when your friend, roommate, or classmate is in crisis.  It is important, however, to bear in mind that students respond to crises or stress in a variety of ways.  While there is no universally definitive measure to identify a student of concern, there are a few common warning signs that may indicate distress or significant emotional concern in a student:

  • Marked nervousness, agitation, or irritability
  • Inappropriately aggressive or abrasive behavior
  • Excessive procrastination and/or poorly prepared work
  • Pattern of infrequent class attendance, little or no work completed
  • Apparent depression or lack of energy
  • Marked change in personal hygiene
  • Withdrawal, indecisiveness and/or confusion
  • Comments (written or verbal) that suggest thoughts about harming oneself, or any threats to another person
  • Bizarre, alarming statements, or evidence that a student is engaging in dangerous behavior

If the situation is life-threatening, or potentially life-threatening, contact these resources:

Emergency Contacts

  • 9-1-1 (Mason Police)
  • Online Crisis Chat
  • (703) 527-4077 (CrisisLink)
  • 1-800-273-8255 (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline)
  • 1-877-838-2838 (Veterans’ Crisis Hotline)

Counseling and Psychological Services is available to consult whenever there is a difficult situation; please take advantage of this resource by calling (703) 993-2380 during the day from 8:30AM to 5:00PM, Monday through Friday.