Emergency / Crisis Intervention Services

Bottom Line Up Front

There is hope. Whether you want to help yourself or someone else, you don't have to do it alone. Call MDC 410-293-4897 during business hours (M-F 0745-1530) for yourself or another midshipman for immediate crisis support. Outside of business hours, please call the Duty Chaplains at (443) 223-7870 or call/text 988.

Crisis Support at MDC

A mental health crisis means you're going through intense emotional distress or behavioral changes that might impact your safety or ability to function. If this sounds like you, or you're worried about another midshipman, please reach out immediately to resources below.

For Midshipmen Needing Immediate Support:

• Call us at 410-293-4897 or Visit MDC during business hours (Monday to Friday, 0745 - 1530).
• Outside of business hours, please call 988, the Duty Chaplains at (443) 223-7870 and alert your chain-of-command.

For Midshipmen Supporters (Friends, Teammates, Faculty, Coach, Staff, etc.):

• Call us at 410-293-4897 during business hours (Monday to Friday, 0745 - 1530).
• Escort the midshipman to the MDC during business hours (Monday to Friday, 0745 - 1530).
• Outside of business hours, call/text 988, call the Duty Chaplains at (443) 223-7870, and alert your chain-of-command. 
• You can make a difference if you suspect someone may be considering suicide. Studies show that talking about suicide does not increase the risk of someone dying by suicide. Suicide can be prevented. Remember ACT: Ask - Care - Treat
  • ASK if someone is depressed and is thinking about suicide.
  • Let them know you CARE.
  • Connect them with assistance (TREATment) as soon as possible.

For Non-Crisis Support:

If it's not an immediate crisis, supporters can review information on Supporting Midshipmen in Distress for ways to offer a helping hand. Midshipmen are also encouraged to explore Self-Help Tools to build their own resilience.

When to Use MDC for Crisis Support

Reach out immediately to the resources if you or someone you know are experiencing any of the following:

• You are having serious thoughts about harming yourself or ending your life, or you're unsure how to stay safe.
• You are having serious thoughts about harming or killing someone else.
• You have recently attempted suicide.
• You are having unusual or strange experiences, such as hearing voices, or smelling/seeing things that others don't (like hallucinations or other severe changes in perception).
• You have been threatened, sexually or physically assaulted, or experienced other forms of violence in the past few weeks.
• You've been unable to sleep at all for three days in a row.
• You are experiencing severe disorientation, significant memory problems, or extreme confusion.

Remember, you don't have to face these challenges alone. We are here to help you.

During business hours (M-F, 0745-1530), please connect with us at 410-293-4897. 

Important! Outside of business hours, please call the Duty Chaplains at (443) 223-7870, alert your chain-of-command, or call/text 988. Do not wait until business hours to reach out for support. 

What to Expect During a Crisis Visit

During a crisis visit, your mental health provider's main goal is to get you the help that you need. After completing some initial paperwork, you’ll meet with a provider, who will talk with you to understand your current feelings, check on your safety, and figure out what support you need right away.

Depending on your situation, the provider will help you create a plan to stay safe and suggest steps for your overall treatment, which might include self-care tips, coping strategies, and/or follow-on counseling. The MDC is a nonmedical counseling center. If your needs are more appropriately addressed by a medical counseling resource, your provider will help you transition safely and smoothly to the Brigade Medical Unit Behavioral Health (BMU BH).

What Happens After a Crisis Visit?

After your crisis visit, there are many ways to continue getting support. Your mental health and safety is the most important thing to us. Based on what you need, your mental health provider might recommend following up at MDC for additional counseling, obtaining services utilizing the battalion chaplain office, or referral for additional services through BMU BH.

What if I need to talk to a mental health clinician urgently but don’t fit one of the crisis support categories? 

If you need help quickly but it’s not a crisis, you have several options. You can call us at 410-293-4897 or walk in for a triage at MDC during business hours (Monday to Friday, 7:45 AM to 3:30 PM) and we’ll help you set up an appointment for an Intake session.  We strive to schedule midshipmen as soon as possible. Learn more about Making an Appointment here. 

Additional Crisis Support Services/Resources

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Call, Text, or Chat at 988

Crisis Text LINE

https://www.crisistextline.org/

Chat online or text HOME to 741741

Suicide Prevention Resource Center

https://sprc.org/

Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO)

https://www.usna.edu/SAPRO/