This change gives students the ability to call in any day or any time of the week to talk to a licensed professional. 

Director of counseling services Crystal Leming explains why Washburn’s counseling is different from others. 

“Our agency is directly affiliated with [Washburn University]. If the student needs assistance, the agency can direct them to any on-campus resources they may need,” Leming said. “Our licensed mental health providers can help students form a safety plan but the students who call in don’t always have to be facing a crisis. They can call in and be having a panic attack or worried about their friend.”

 Students have always been able to speak with a counselor over the phone before, but only during business hours. This 24-hour phone service provides the students, faculty and staff to call in any time of the day or night to speak to a counselor, which eliminates the time gap for the caller to talk about an occurrence whenever they feel that they need to. If the counselor can determine that the student can make it through the night safely, they can schedule to follow up with one of the three licensed therapists in counseling services for the next day. 

“If students are actively suicidal, then our professionals have the resources and will get them in with someone to help them get the help they need that same night,” Leming said.

If the student decides that they don’t want to schedule a follow-up for the next day, they can stop by prior to calling, and speak with one of the counselor’s face to face. The 24-hour counseling will have already been given a heads up that this student had been struggling the night before and get the student in with a counselor more quickly.

“One of the most exciting parts of this is that we don’t even know yet how much this is going to mean for students because right now when we leave at five, until we come back at eight, we have no idea how many students may be wishing that they had someone to talk to, or hoping there was someone they could reach.”

Counseling services hopes that they will be well utilized and are anxious to learn and better understand how to help students with whatever they need.

If you or someone else is suffering from any kind of crisis, stop by and talk to one of our licensed professionals. If this is an emergency and cannot wait, here is a list of resources to contact:

Student counseling Services: 785-670-3100

Campus Police: 784-670-1153

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255

National Crisis Text Line: 741741

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233

Valeo 24-hour Crisis Hotline: 785-234-3300