Our Role

The Student Mental Health Coordination Services (SMHCS) office is the single point of contact for the campus community to report concerns about a student in distress or a student distressing others. As the department that collects all information regarding distressed student concerns, SMHCS Coordinators are able to construct a holistic picture of how referred students are functioning and connect them with appropriate campus resources. As a non-clinical office, SMHCS is able to collaborate with other departments on campus to provide coordination of care, interventions, social support, and follow-up services from a network of campus resources.

When appropriate, SMHCS will mobilize the Students of Concern Team (SOC) and/or the Student Behavioral Intervention Team (SBIT) to provide a coordinated University response to a student in distress or a student distressing others. Both teams consist of a multi-disciplinary group of professionals who work to improve the health and safety of the campus community while supporting students’ ability to achieve academic success. The SOC and SBIT Teams meet weekly to determine appropriate interventions, develop individualized response plans, and connect students to campus and community services.

When to Refer and Who to Contact

SMHCS coordinators are available for consultation during business hours, Monday through Friday. For after-hours consultation, call 805-893-4411.

 


For immediate safety or crisis concerns, contact UCPD at 911 or 805-893-3446.

Contact UCPD

911 / 805-893-3446

  • If you feel unsafe
  • Homicidal threats
  • Suicidal threats
  • Highly disruptive behavior (such as hostility or aggression that causes alarm)
  • If someone needs an immediate psychiatric assessment
    • Loss of contact with reality
    • Inability to communicate clearly
    • Currently suicidal

Contact SMHCS

805-893-3030

  • Behavior or emotional changes in student
    • Social withdrawal
    • Change in hygiene/appearance
    • Decline in academic performance
    • Excessive substance use
  • Potential safety concern (thoughts of harm to self or other, but not imminent)
  • Behavior is making others feel uncomfortable (but not immediate threat)
  • To consult about possible responses to a student’s behavior
  • If you are not sure where to refer student

For more information on reporting and referral resources, go to the UCSB Distressed Students Response Protocol.