Student Crisis Information

If you can’t be sure that yourself, or the person in distress, can keep themselves safe from serious harm then calling 911 is the right move. It is better to call and seek guidance and assistance than to wonder about whether you did enough.

Anyone who is depressed, going through a hard time, needs to talk, or is thinking about suicide can call or text the 988 lifeline to talk or text chat. The lifeline counselors are here to listen and support you through whatever difficult times you may be facing.

Possibly, but only if it’s necessary. If you call the BSU after hours service, and the clinician on the phone determines that the person of concern is in imminent danger, then the police will be contacted to facilitate transport to the nearest hospital (Brockton Hospital if you’re on campus). The national suicide hotline has a similar protocol, designed to keep people safe when they’re feeling suicidal.

No. The police assist with every mental health emergency on campus and are highly trained to respond to mental health calls. They arrive on scene to assess the situation and to make sure that the person of concern is safely transported to a facility where care can be delivered. If the police assess a situation and find that transport is not necessary, they collaborate with the BSU Wellness Center to make sure that students are seen to follow up with their mental health crisis. In all of these cases the police are happy to assist as part of their commitment to community policing.

There are many ways to get involved. For example:

• Learn how to have productive conversations about mental health with our Kognito mental health training module, available to all BSU students and employees.
• Join the student group Active Minds, who focus on mental health advocacy.
• Take Professor Hoke’s PSYC350 Mental Health Advocacy course.
• Join the Wellness Center in our various programs, including National Suicide Awareness Month (Fall), Movies for Mental Health (Fall), and our annual Out of the Darkness walk to support suicide prevention (Spring).

In areas other than approved or licensed locations, all persons are prohibited from being present where there are alcoholic beverage containers, whether those containers are full, partially full or empty. Except for employment or other permissive purposes, students under the age of 21 may not be in the presence of alcohol or alcohol containers. Please see the full Alcohol Policy.

When a student aids an intoxicated or impaired individual by contacting the Bridgewater State University Police or Residence Life and Housing staff, it is up to the discretion of the Director of Community Standards, or designee, to determine if any involved parties, student organizations the Community Standards process.  This does not preclude action regarding other violations of University standards such as causing or threatening physical harm, damage to property, harassment, hazing, or violations of the Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy.

No, the campus does not currently host an AA meeting. For a listing of AA meetings close to campus please visit the Bridgewater Alcoholics Anonymous.

The BSU Police offer a training on the use of the opioid antagonist Naloxone (Narcan). For more information please contact Detective Sargent McAvoy of the BSUPD.

Narcan can be found in a “Naloxbox” can be found near the info desk of the RSU and inside most residence hall AED unit boxes.

Please review the “confidentiality and reporting” section of the EO/Title IX website. If you want to speak to someone on campus about a sexual assault before you know whether you’ll report, please make sure to reach out to one of our campus ‘confidential’ supports (Wellness/SVAS).

Confidential support can be found with the clinical staff at the Wellness Center and the staff of the Sexual Violence Advocacy and Support (SVAS) Center.

Please review the “preserving evidence” page at the EO/Title IX website to learn how best to proceed immediately after an assault. Please remember that you are not alone and BSU has many resources to assist you through this difficult time.

There are many resources available to help you. We recommend that you first address your safety and the safety of any vulnerable populations involved (minors, elderly). Please contact your local police department or the BSU Police department to learn more about legal interventions. For shelters and other resources please check out this list of resources by county.

Yes, there are several ways to get assistance. You can seek a consultation at the SVAS center, the BSU Wellness Center or with our BSU Police. Relationship violence can occur even when you don’t live together and we’re here to support you in finding safety.

Yes. There are several options that may be available to you depending on your situation. The first move would be to contact Eileen Estudante, our single point of contact on Housing Insecurity, and set up a time to discuss your concern.

BSU can sometimes assist students with our Student Emergency Fund when there are no other viable options. We can also help students, or the family they are living with, get in contact with winter fuel assistance through state supported programs. Contact MA LIHEAP for more info.

The office of Residence Life and Housing would be happy to work with you to see whether this is an option that would make sense.