The Ferrum College Student Counseling Center (FCSCC) takes a comprehensive approach to student mental health. We offer an option for 1:1 counseling with a licensed clinician through Teladoc Health
Teladoc delivers comprehensive, integrated virtual care that spans each stage in a student’s health journey. This is a complete general medical and behavioral health package at NO COST to the student. The package includes:
Step by step instructions can be found here. You must use your full legal name when registering on the website. To set up an account, use a computer or tablet and access the TeladocHealth.com/Comfort/EIIA website or you can call 866-509-8954. For any questions or help setting up an account, contact Student Counseling (counseling@ferrum.edu), by calling (540-365-4220), or by visiting lower Roberts Hall, room 2.
Counseling services are free of charge. Each student is clinically assessed to determine the frequency of sessions based on their needs. Documentation recommending emotional support animals (ESA) must go through an outside provider. Please work with an outside provider and coordinate ESA needs with the dean of students.
Please note that FCSCC staff do not provide assessment for or documentation recommending ESAs.
For 24-hour emergency help on campus, contact
Campus Police at (540) 365-4444 or ext. 4444.
For local mental health emergency assessments and care after hours:
Carilion Clinic Roanoke
(540) 981-8181 or 1 (800) 284-889
Psychiatric Emergencies
(888) 819-1331
Listen Line
(877) 934-3576
(800) 273-8255
Call or Text 988
Know how to help. Many people who struggle say that talking with their friends helped them to seek professional help.
You are not alone. If you feel this is an emergency situation or you are concerned about the immediate well-being of a friend, please contact the campus police at (540) 365-4444.
For non-emergency situations
You can encourage your friend to seek out an RA/Residence Life Staff. Or have them email counseling directly at counseling@ferrum.edu
None of us can solve someone else’s problems but we can try to be compassionate, non-judgmental, and supportive of their getting the assistance that will help them the most.
National Mental Health or Crisis Resources
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1 (800) 273-TALK (8255)
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741
https://www.crisistextline.org/
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
www.nami.org or (helpline) (800) 950-6264
Mental Health America Screening Tools
Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org
https://screening.mhanational.org/screening-tools/
Trans Lifeline Peer Support Hotline: (877) 565-8860
JED Foundation
https://www.jedfoundation.org/
It could be beneficial for first-year students who have received mental health care or care for chronic/on-going medical condition to look at JED Foundation’s Transition of Care document: https://www.settogo.org/transition-of-care-guide/
Sexual Assault and Intimate Partner Violence Resources
Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance
http://www.vsdvalliance.org
Franklin County Family Resource Center
(540) 483-1234
SARA Roanoke
(540) 981-9352 (24/7 crisis hotline)
https://sararoanoke.org/
Alcohol and Substance Use Resources
Alcoholics Anonymous
To find local meetings: https://aavirginia.org
Narcotics Anonymous
To find local meetings: http://www.roanokena.com
Piedmont Community Services (local Community Services Board)
(540) 483-0582
Faculty and staff have daily contact with students. Therefore, you are in an excellent position to be aware of a student who may need assistance.
WHO IS ALLOWED TO USE COUNSELING SERVICES?
Any full time Ferrum College undergraduate student currently enrolled is allowed to use counseling services. Each student choosing to use counseling services is required to complete intake paperwork. Counseling Center staff will work with graduate students to locate providers off campus.
HOW DO I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A COUNSELOR?
The best way to make an appointment is to email counseling@ferrum.edu. Please advise whether it is urgent. Appointments are typically 45-50 minutes long.
WHAT ABOUT CONFIDENTIALITY?
Information regarding services is confidential and will not be released to any other agency or individual without permission, except when required by law. Counseling center staff are required to report suspected abuse or neglect of a person who is presently a minor, an elderly person, or an incapacitated adult. Confidentiality may also be broken if there is a serious intent of harm to self or others or if there is a court order from a judge. When seeking non-clinical support from staff, students are entitled to privacy. However, students may be referred to clinical staff based on needs.
WHERE ARE WE LOCATED?
Roberts Hall, Room 4
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT FROM COUNSELING?
On your first visit you will complete an intake session with your clinician. This will help the clinician determine support and interventions based on your individual needs. This will be a collaborative relationship, and the clinician will often ask you to practice skills outside of the session. This is designed to strengthen your coping and distress tolerance skills.
MEDICAL OR PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES: Psychiatric services are not available on campus, but students can work with their therapist to locate psychiatric services off campus if needed.
EMERGENCY/URGENT REQUESTS: We will make every attempt to see any student in an urgent or emergency crisis during regular office hours. Call (540) 365-4219 and request an urgent appointment.
If it is after regular office hours:
If it is an emergency, please contact Campus Police at (540) 365-4444.
You may also seek support from housing and residence life staff members by contacting a resident assistant.
If you are off campus, please call 911 for assistance.
