Resources & FAQs

Below are some resources the Counseling Center has collected to help students with a wide variety of issues. Feel free to contact the Center at any time as you explore these resources!

Mental Health and Wellness

Our mental health is just as important as our physical health and deserves just as much attention. Our physical and mental health both require maintenance and when a break down occurs (sore throat, flu, high anxiety, depression) we need to attend to it and seek treatment if necessary. What we do for our physical health affects our mental health and vice versa. When we are both physically and mentally healthy we function at our best. When our physical health or mental health is challenged we can become compromised. A nutritious diet, daily exercise and good sleep are a great start on the road to wellness. Below are some helpful resources for wellness:

Self-Assessments

AlcoholScreening.org
Mental Health Screenings: Depression, generalized anxiety disorder, eating disorder, substance use, alcohol use disorder, PTSD, bipolar disorder
eCheckup: The eCHECKUP TO GO screening assessment will provide you with accurate and personalized feedback about:
- Your individual drinking or cannabis use patterns
- Your risk patterns
- Your aspirations and goals
Helpful resources at Herkimer Community College and in your community
- Alcohol: https://echeckup.sdsu.edu/usa/alc/coll/herkimer/#!/
- Cannabis: https://echeckup.sdsu.edu/usa/mj/coll/herkimer/#!/

Suicide Prevention

Campus Connect. This is a highly interactive training offered by the Herkimer College Counseling Center. The training is designed to increase skills and awareness concerning the emotional intensity of responding to suicidal college students. The three-hour training culminates with a role play, in which gatekeepers are given the opportunity to practice the skills they are taught during the course of training. If you are interested in receiving this training, email Wendy Marchese at marcheswt@herkimer.edu.

Seize the Awkward. Seize the Awkward is a unique campaign that targets teens and young adults and delivers information about risk factors for suicide, as well as tips for how to support someone experiencing emotional and psychological distress. The campaign includes videos featuring YouTube stars like Hannah Hart, Liza Koshy, and Remi Cruz talking about their mental health struggles and how they've supported others during difficult times. The campaign's website is loaded with tips about warning signs, as well as advice on how to listen supportively.

If you are in crisis and need assistance:

Mobile Crisis Assessment Team – 1-844-732-6228 a 24/7 phone line for individuals in crisis in Oneonta, Herkimer, Delaware, Schoharie, Chenango and Otsego Counties.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Text Line – Text Got5U to 741741 (Note: The Steve Fund has created a special keyword that young people of color can text to connect with a culturally trained crisis counselor 24/7. Text STEVE to 741741)

For emergencies call 911

Call or text 988 for emotional support from trained crisis counselors

Chat at 988lifeline.org/chat

Forms/Procedures

Alcohol & Other Drugs Policy and Procedures

Websites

Information for LGBT College Students

ACR Health - ACR Health’s network of Q Centers and support groups are safe places for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth, their families and allies to gather. Q Center programming seeks to promote equality, celebrate diversity, and create a safer, more accepting and inclusive community for all.
GSA Network (books and movies for LGBT youth)
GLBT National Help Center (peer counseling, information & local resources for GLBTG callers)
www.thetrevorproject.org (The Trevor Project-24 hr. toll free suicide prevention hotline)

Mental Health Sites

CHADD (Children & Adults with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
U Lifeline
Kids Health (Teens Health)
Mental Health Screenings (depression, generalized anxiety disorder, eating disorder, substance use, alcohol use disorder, PTSD, bipolar disorder)

SUNY Mental Health Repository

This is a new mental health and well-being resource available to all members of the SUNY community.

The repository was created to help students and other members of the SUNY family easily find information on mental health services during times of crisis or otherwise, as they had shared that at times, it can be challenging to locate desired information on campus and/or County webpages.

This resource provides users with quick access to information related to all SUNY campus mental health and well-being resources, as well as local County services and supports. The repository allows users to sort by campus or County type resources, includes a map feature, and also is searchable by service type categories.

Drug/Alcohol Sites

Alcohol Screening.org
BAC Calculator
College and Alcohol Use - Information on the signs of an alcohol addiction, the effects and support options for those involved
The eAA Group - An online AA support group
Find Treatment - Sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
The Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility
Herkimer County Prevention Council
In the Rooms - A global recovery community with free access to support groups
National Institute on Drug Abuse
NYS Combat Addiction resources page
NYS Office of Addiction Services and Support

Alcohol & Drug Abuse - numbers to call

Alcoholics Anonymous: 315-732-6880
Addictions Crisis Center: 315-735-1116
Beacon Center: 315-717-0189
Insight House (Utica): 315-724-5168
Rise Recovery Community Outreach Center (Herkimer): 315-219-5393

Sexual Assault/Dating Violence

Other

Moneygeek.com (financial stress)
NEDA (eating disorders)

FAQs

Why would I ever need to consider personal counseling?

How many times have you heard those very encouraging words, “Your college experience is going to be the time of your life.” The problem is that while this is true for some students, it is anything but for others. For many students, college can be quite overwhelming. So if you are starting to feel like things are getting more and more difficult to handle on your own, consider making an appointment with a Herkimer College Personal Counselor and we will do what we can to help you with your situation.
How can a personal counselor help me?

As professionally-trained Counselors, we are here to work with you confidentially on things like overall adjustment to college life, feeling homesick, dealing with relationships, handling mild depression/anxiety or facing pressure related to sexuality, sexual activity, concerns with sexual or gender identity, or drug/alcohol use, just to name a few.
What do you mean by "confidential?”

Any information that you share with the Counselor or that is contained in your personal file is kept in strict confidence and cannot be shared with anyone without your written consent.
What if the stuff that I am dealing with is more serious than feeling homesick?

In the Counseling Center we are also very concerned about more serious issues that sometimes creep up on college students, such as depression, dealing with an eating disorder, drug or alcohol abuse or other more serious mental health concerns. These situations often require referring the student to a community-based service that is specialized and better equipped to handle more complicated issues.
What if I’m in a crisis?

Here in the Counseling Center we are also prepared to handle crisis situations. No one likes to think about awful situations—such as someone having suicidal thoughts, rape, a drug overdose or any other traumatic event occurring—but the fact of the matter is that these situations can occur, and we need to be prepared.
Contact the Counseling Center, MCAT or Campus Safety immediately (see Emergency Services) if you become worried about yourself or someone else heading into crisis, dealing with a crisis, or having trouble recovering following a crisis. We will be there to help by first ensuring everyone’s safety and then helping the person in crisis obtain the services and resources needed to overcome the situation and hopefully keep the crisis from reoccurring.
What if I’m fine, but I’m concerned about someone else?

In a situation where you are worried about someone else, we still want to encourage you to come in and see us. If you prefer, we can help you handle the situation or at least provide you with some sound advice on how to handle the situation on your own without our direct involvement.
Can someone refer me to the Herkimer College Counseling Center?

Yes, you can be referred to the Counseling Center. A faculty member, friend, roommate, coach, parent, etc. can contact the Counseling Center stating that they are concerned about you and that they believe you might benefit from talking with a Counselor about whatever it is you are dealing with at the time. Subsequently, we will contact you to inform you of the referral and invite you to schedule an appointment to come in to talk with a Counselor. Of course, with these types of referrals, it is your decision whether or not you choose to follow through with the invitation. We strongly urge that you consider at least an initial visit to give us a chance to talk and see how we might be of help to you.
Can I be mandated to go to the Counseling Center?

Yes. The Dean of Students or Director of Campus Safety can mandate you to see a Counselor. This is usually done in the event that you are in violation of the Alcohol and Other Drug Policy and/or Student Code of Conduct.
Please refer to the student handbook for further details.
What if I just want some information but do not want to talk to a counselor?

In the Counseling Center’s main entrance, there is a display rack full of free literature. The items on display cover a wide variety of topics ranging from drug/alcohol concerns to sexual assault/date rape concerns to good mental health and wellness. You can access this information anytime. Also continue browsing this site for virtual pamphlets and assessments