Ithaca College

Counseling & Psychological Services offers Ithaca College Staff & Faculty the chance to learn about how to help someone who is experiencing a crisis.  Applications are available for anyone interested in becoming a part of the Mental Health Response Team. 

Have you wanted to learn more about how to help a student in distress and be able to help if there were a campus-wide crisis?

If so, please consider becoming a Mental Health Response Team Volunteer!

The MHRT is a team comprised of staff and faculty who can be called upon in the case of a campus-wide emergency. The MHRT has as its mission to aid Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) in providing a comprehensive crisis response to the Ithaca College campus in an emergency situation by providing basic mental health support to those members of the campus involved in a crisis, and providing them with basic information about human response to crisis and referral information for further support and services.

Why would you want to become a MHRT Volunteer?

•To learn the signs and symptoms of someone in crisis, and know what to do to help

•To be involved in a crisis response plan if and when Ithaca College experiences a crisis that affected many people

•To learn about crisis intervention & the ways we respond to crises in our lives

•To improve your listening skills

•To learn about the mental health resources at Ithaca College and in the community

How do I become a MHRT Volunteer?

First, we ask that you fill out an application to join the team. 

Next, you would be invited to join the initial training, which will occur January 19th & 20th, 11-5pm. The initial training will take about one full day (divided into two half-days), and will include basic helping skills like listening, basic mental health assessment, triage, referral, a presentation by professionals who have provided mental health crisis response post-9/11 and other campus-related crises, the importance of communication during a crisis, and the opportunity to practice with theatre students acting as students in crisis. Additional gatherings of the team will occur during the year to help connect volunteers and continue to practice your helping skills.

Please call or email Suki Montgomery Hall in CAPS if you have questions or would like an application form: 274-3136 or smhall@ithaca.edu.

Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact Suki S. Montgomery Hall at smhall@ithaca.edu or (607) 274-3136. We ask that requests for accommodations be made as soon as possible.