Mental Health


If you are experiencing a mental health emergency:

Urgent same day appointments available at Psychological & Counseling Services, Monday – Friday, 8am – 5pm by calling (603) 862-2090 (Relay NH: 1-800-735-2964) and ask to be scheduled for an “Urgent Same-Day Appointment†or request to speak with the on-call clinician. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;

Students in crisis after 5 pm or on weekends may call (603) 862-2090 (Relay NH: 1-800-735-2964) and press 0 to speak with a counselor. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;

Text WILDCAT to 741741 for confidential, 24/7 crisis support with a trained counselor. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;

 Call UNH Police at 911. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;

You can also call 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

 

Understanding the Continuum of Emotional Wellness   

We often use the terms "mental health" and "mental illness" interchangeably, but they are distinct. By understanding their distinctions and how both play a role in your emotional wellness, you'll be better equipped to manage your well-being with greater ease. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;

  • Emotional Wellness  
    Emotional Wellness is being kind to yourself as you recognize and experience a wide range of emotions. Expanding your emotional vocabulary through “affect labeling†using the Mood Meter is one way to name your emotions and skillfully take action to enhance your emotional wellness.  &²Ô²ú²õ±è;

  • Mental Health &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
    Just like physical health, we all have mental health. Mental health is your psychological state that fluctuates with daily living. Feeling nervous about an upcoming exam or sad after a loss, for example, are appropriate and healthy emotional responses. However, when these emotions persist and prevent you from fully participating in your life, they may be symptoms of a mental illness.  &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
     &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
    Just like your body sends signals when physical illness is brewing, your mind often gives clues when you're heading towards mental illness. These symptoms can appear across different areas of your life: &²Ô²ú²õ±è;

  • You might notice physical changes like acne, increased tension, or frequent headaches. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;

  • Mentally, you could struggle with concentrating, focusing, or remembering things. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;

  • Emotionally, you might become more reactive, irritable, or easily overwhelmed. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;

  • And behaviorally, you might see shifts in your eating, movement, or sleep patterns, not going to class, or finding yourself frequently zoning out on your phone.  &²Ô²ú²õ±è;

Symptoms that persist for two weeks or more can indicate mental illness.  &²Ô²ú²õ±è;

  • Mental Illness &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
    Mental illness arises when mental health concerns lead to persistent distress and negatively affect daily functioning. Common mental illnesses include depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, schizophrenia, and eating concerns.  &²Ô²ú²õ±è;

Adolescence and young adulthood are common periods for the first manifestation of mental illnesses, attributed to factors such as ongoing brain development, hormonal changes, genetic predisposition, new environments, the societal pressures of transitioning from adolescence to adulthood, and trauma. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
 

This is helpful for more fully understanding how mental health and illness impact young adults. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;

Getting Help at UNH

To support students in enhancing their mental health and receiving treatment for mental illness, UNH provides numerous services. Health & Wellness and Psychological and Counseling Services (PACS) serve as the primary on-campus providers of these mental health services.  &²Ô²ú²õ±è;

Appointments can be made online, in-person, or on the phone. All services are confidential and available to students who have paid their tuition fees.  &²Ô²ú²õ±è;

  • Physicians and nurse practitioners at Health & Wellness are experienced at diagnosing common mental illnesses, particularly depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.
  • ´¡â€¯psychiatrist is available on campus for consultation regarding diagnosis and/or treatment. A referral from one of our clinicians or a counselor from PACS is needed to see the psychiatrist. We can also make referrals to psychiatrists in the area, when appropriate. Additional information on UNH psychiatry services
  • Psychological and Counseling Services (PACS) offers individual and group psychotherapy.  
  • The UNH Eating Concerns Treatment Team offers comprehensive care services for students with eating concerns. The team includes clinicians (a physician, nurse practitioners, and a psychiatrist (only available as needed), a registered dietitian from Health & Wellness, and mental health counselors from Psychological and Counseling Services (PACS).
  •  Wellness coaching at Health & Wellness helps students enhance their emotional wellness, skillfully care for their mental health, and prevent mental illness.
  •  Substance use education/counseling at Health & Wellness provides a safe, relaxed, and confidential space for you to explore your relationship with alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, and other drugs. This service can also be helpful if you are supporting someone else who is struggling with substance misuse.  

Suicide Prevention Training

suicide prevention flyer. PACS phone: 603-862-2090. UNH police: 911. Text WILDCAT to 741741.

PACS offers one-hour, in-person suicide prevention training called QPR for all faculty, staff, and students. QPR, which stands for Question, Persuade, Refer, is much like CPR; they are both basic strategies to keep a person alive until they can receive medical or mental health care. You can think of it as a "safety net." 

 

How Are You—Really?

“How are you†is more than a greeting. It’s a check-in that lets people know you care. And, when you respond to the greeting, it’s a way for you to check-in with yourself and authentically share what you’re experiencing. Learn more 

 

The Green Ribbon Campaign

The Green Ribbon campaign is designed to spread awareness of resources to support student's emotional well-being and mental health and to grow peer support.  Learn more.  

 

Additional Mental Health Resources

  

  • Anxiety Disorder 
     
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) 
     
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • Bipolar Disorder 
     
  • Borderline Personality Disorder 
     
  • Depression 
     
  • Eating Disorders 
     
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) 
     
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) 
     
  • Schizophrenia 
     
     

  • Social Anxiety Disorder 

  • Suicide/Suicide Prevention
    UNH Psychological and Counseling Services (PACS)