RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS
Viking Mental Health Digital Resource Center
About
At Portland State University (PSU), we are committed to supporting the emotional health and wellbeing of all our student-athletes. We understand that student-athletes are managing an infinite amount of responsibility, both in their personal and professional identities, and we uphold the importance of care for the whole person, not just as an athlete. As part of this commitment, PSU Athletics provides a full spectrum of care for student-athletes in partnership with the Center for Student Health and Counseling (SHAC). We collaborate to offer student-athletes a variety of mental health services including: individual and group therapy, crisis care, case management, medication evaluation and management, and educational workshops. It is our central mission to help students find ways to overcome challenges and difficulties that may interfere with their accomplishments and success, both on and off the field, while promoting a positive environment to achieve athletic, academic, relational, professional, and personal goals.
What to expect
Counseling Services staff are available to meet with student-athletes both in person and virtually. Telehealth appointments are through a secure and private Zoom video conferencing. To schedule your first appointment, call 503.725.2800 or schedule online through the
online patient portal.
All student-athletes are eligible for SHAC appointments as long as you are enrolled in five or more in-load credit hours, regardless of the health insurance coverage that you hold.
SHAC has a dedicated
Athletics Mental Health Specialist on staff available to meet with student-athletes seeking mental health support. You can make an appointment by calling 503.725.2800, informing the medical reception staff that you are a student athlete, and requesting an appointment with the Athletics Mental Health Specialist.
All student-athletes have a right to confidentiality and all mental health professionals at SHAC maintain confidential records of all patient contacts. This means that
no information about your contact with SHAC (e.g. attendance, treatment goals or progress) will be disclosed to parties outside of SHAC without your written permission, including Athletics staff, coaches, sports med staff, family members, etc. There are some exceptions to confidentiality that we want you to be aware of and these include: (1) if you indicate an intent to harm yourself or others; (2) if you reveal abuse or neglect of a child, or of an elderly or disabled adult; (3) if a court of law orders disclosure of information about your treatment; (4) if you initiate legal proceedings regarding your mental health treatment, or use mental illness as a defense in a criminal or civil action; (5) if you are diagnosed with a reportable disease as required by the State Health Department; or (6) if you are at risk of operating a motor vehicle. Confidentiality in these cases will be limited to the extent the law allows.
For more information on what to expect from SHAC, check out this
4 minute video.
How to Make Appointments or See a Counselor
How to schedule a non-emergency appointment
Counseling Services staff are available to meet with student-athletes for in person and virtual mental health services. Telehealth appointments are through secure and private Zoom video conferencing. To schedule your first appointment, call 503.725.2800 or schedule online through the
online patient portal.
Calling to schedule:
Scheduling online:
- If you opt to schedule an appointment online through the online patient portal, you will log in with your ODIN username and password.
- You will then be required to input your birthday as a security measure to confirm your identity.
- This will bring you to your homepage where you will see a large black button with the words, “Check in or schedule an appointment”, click this button.
- This will bring you to a new screen with a new black button that says, “Schedule an Appointment.”
- This will bring you to a screen of eligible appointments that you can schedule. For counseling services, before therapy can begin, you will be scheduled for a triage appointment.
Initial consultation/triage appointments are not therapy, instead, they are brief 30 minute appointments with a licensed provider to gather information and establish a plan of action for next steps of care.
Appropriate next steps for care may include:
- a follow up appointment with SHAC Counseling Services
- a referral to the Athletics Mental Health Specialist
- referral to another PSU support resource
- referral to group counseling
- being placed on Counseling Services assignment list for individual counseling
- and/or referral to off-campus resources.
In order to best meet the demand for services, SHAC follows a short term treatment model in which the student and the clinician collaboratively address the student’s primary concerns in a time-efficient manner.
How to schedule an emergency or crisis appointment
SHAC offers walk in
emergency/crisis services during the hours of operations (M - Th 9am - 5pm | Fri 10am-5pm). You can call SHAC (503-725-2800) to request a same day emergency appointment or you can walk over to SHAC located in the University Center Building (UCB), 1880 SW 6th Ave #200, Portland, OR 97201.
No appointment necessary.
The Front Desk Staff will help you to check in and connect you with a Counseling Services therapist.
If you are seeking support after hours and need an in-person crisis evaluation, please go to Unity Center for Behavioral Health (1225 NE 2nd Ave). If you or someone you know is an imminent danger to themselves or someone else, call 911.
Additional Crisis and Emergency Resources
Somewhere in between emergency and non emergency?
If you feel like you are having a hard time processing something, recently found yourself in a challenging situation, or are struggling to cope with a difficult experience, a big transition, or overwhelming news, you do not have to wait for an appointment to get support. Athletes are able to take advantage of SHAC counseling walk in appointments, offered daily during SHAC hours of operation (M-Th 9am-5pm | Fri 10am-5pm). These one-time appointments are a great way to recenter yourself, gather your thoughts and feelings around a difficult situation, and receive some needed support from a trusted, neutral professional. No appointment necessary and no waiting list, just stop by and tell the front desk you are here for a drop in appointment. If you are seeking support after hours, please dial 988 or call the Multnomah County Crisis Line at 503.988.4888 to be connected to a local counselor and resources.
Group Counseling, Workshops, & Educational Opportunities
Group Counseling
Group counseling is an especially useful approach for addressing many issues commonly experienced by college students. Group counseling is an ideal setting where students can work on personal growth, develop insight about interpersonal relationship patterns, and receive support and feedback from peers. These groups often help to promote greater self-awareness, authenticity, and provide a safe environment in which to practice new behaviors. General group counseling groups are available through SHAC Counseling Services, in both in person and virtual capacities. If you would like more information about joining a counseling group, please view the
SHAC Group Counseling Webpage.
Student-athletes at PSU also have very specific life experiences, stressors and challenges that they frequently navigate during their time as a Viking. Stressors such as injuries, transfering, interpersonal issues, and confidence are big concerns with college athletes, and many of these can be made more tolerable just by working through them in community. Because of this, we have athlete-specific support groups available to all athletes at PSU.
Student-Athlete Support Group
Whether you are facing personal issues, emotional concerns, team challenges, or simply seeking a supportive community of individuals that have a common identity, Athlete Support Group can help. Join this private space of fellow athletes to dive into your personal and shared experiences as a Vik. This space, reserved exclusively for athletes at PSU, will create opportunities to connect with one another, learn and gain new perspectives, and develop coping strategies for challenging experiences. Topics of discussion will vary, but will rely heavily on what group members experience and bring into the space each week. Folks joining this group are encouraged to be vulnerable in order to build connections with their fellow vikings, share stories of triumph and failure, and navigate the heavy impacts and challenges of being a student athlete. Our goal is that participants will leave this group and feel less alone, gain a sense of belonging and connection, build community, and develop coping strategies to navigate ambiguity and difficulty in their lives, both in and outside of sports.
This group is facilitated by Maddie Gregory, LPC. Please contact Maddie with any questions about this group at
Madisong@pdx.edu
If you would like more information about joining a Counseling Services group, please call SHAC at 503-725-2800 and schedule an initial consultation appointment. If you already have a SHAC counselor, please speak with your current counselor about your options for the group.
Workshops & Educational Opportunities
Workshops are a wonderful way to increase your knowledge and understanding around specific mental health topics, establish and develop tools to promote well-being, and build skills to handle stress, navigate difficult emotions, and cultivate self-reflection.
Through our partnership with SHAC, athletes have access to a variety of educational workshops. You can review the current offerings on the
SHAC Workshops Website. If you don’t see anything you are interested in, feel free to email
askshac@pdx.edu and request a workshop specifically for your team!
The Health Promotion Department also provides several peer-led workshops with a goal to inform the Portland State community about relevant health topics and available resources. The Wellness and Health Action Team (WHAT) offers workshops in Body Image, Joyful Movement, Nutrition, Resiliency, Sexual Health, Sleep Hygiene, Stress Prevention, and Life Transition. You can check out their extensive list of offerings at the
Wellness and Health Action Team website.
Peer Recovery Support Groups and Workshops are also available through SHAC’s Health Promotion department. In Peer Recovery Support, students in recovery from alcohol and other drug use, or interested in recovery, connect with a peer with shared lived experience. Peer support workers operate outside of both punitive and clinical systems to support and advocate for students in recovery. Peer Recovery Specialists offer SMART Recovery meetings weekly. SMART stands for Self-Management And Recovery Training. SMART Recovery uses evidence-based tools and strategies to develop self-empowerment and skills in the individual seeking tools for lasting change. Peer Recovery Specialists also host Sober Social Hour events on Fridays and are available for 1:1 meetings with students. The Peer Recovery Specialist can be reached at peerrecovery@pdx.edu.
The Women’s Resource Center (WRC) offers many different options for support, including the
Leadership Cohort curriculum which is designed by the WRC with values and politics in mind. This year, WRC leaders will engage with topics including but not limited to Fat Justice, Disability Justice, Queer Black Feminisms, Anti-violence movement (history & practices), Systems of Oppression, Emotionally Intelligent Leadership, and Transformative Feminist Leadership. They engage with these and other topics through a values set that includes a commitment to anti-violence in all its forms, resilience, persistence, interdependence, honoring all ways of knowing, reducing barriers, and self-determination.
The Queer Resource Center offers a variety of workshops, affinity groups, and support for queer and trans students at Portland State University. The Queer Resource Center strives to provide students with the support they need to persist to graduation through increasing equity and access for queer and trans students at Portland State University.
The PSU Career Center also offers a wide variety of monthly workshops to help student-athletes choose a major or career, answer questions about internships, prepare for interviewing, perfect resumes and cover letters, and more. Check out their
list of educational workshops on the PSU Career Center website.
On & Off Campus Resources & Support
Portland State has a wide variety of resources available to support students experiencing crises. Based on the unique circumstances you are experiencing, please consider connecting with any relevant PSU resource(s) listed below. They may be able to help support you and/or connect you with another resource on campus or in the local community.
This resource list includes the following categories: Academic, Culturally-Specific, Financial Security, Food Security, Housing Security, Mental Health and/or Suicide Ideation, Personal or Community Safety, Sexual and Relationship Violence Response, Substance Use and Recovery.
Academic Resources
Academic Advising
Academic Appeals
- Students who feel they have received a prejudiced or capricious academic evaluation may submit an academic appeal request.
Disability Resource Center
- Students with disabilities can receive one-on-one support related to academic accommodations, fostering community, reducing barriers, and more.
Office of the Registrar
- Find support with registration, degree requirements, transcripts, grading, and more.
- Learn more about the petitions available to students who need to request an exemption to a University requirement or deadline.
The Learning Center
- TLC is a resource at PSU dedicated to empowering students to achieve their academic and personal goals.
- Academic Coaching is a free support service within The Learning Center that is available to all PSU students and provides the opportunity to work one-on-one with coaches to create measurable plans to meet your academic goals.
Culturally Specific Resources
Cultural Resource Centers
- The CRCs provide student leadership, employment, and volunteer opportunities; student resources such as computer labs, event, lounge and study spaces; and extensive programming.
Global Diversity and Inclusion
- GDI is the central division that leads and facilitates the continuous quest for inclusive excellence at PSU, including student support, equity and compliance, diversity advocacy, and diversity education.
Queer Resource Center
- The QRC supports queer and trans students at PSU to achieve their educational goals through advocacy, community, and celebration. The QRC prioritizes a racial justice framework to improve campus climate through education, policy change, and campus-wide organizing.
Services for Students with Children
- The SSWC strives to increase available resources and opportunities that improve the quality of life for students with children through campus projects, community involvement, and advocacy.
Transfer and Returning Student Resource Center
- The TRSRC is here to help you smoothly transition to PSU and to support you on your path to degree completion whether you come to PSU from another institution or are coming to PSU after a significant break from your education.
TRIO Student Support Services
- TRIO is a college retention and graduation program, which helps students develop the academic skills and personal development necessary to successfully pursue and complete a college degree. To qualify, students must be income eligible, first generation college students (neither parent has a bachelor’s degree), and/or have a documented disability.
Financial Security Resources
Emergency and Hardship Funds
Financial Aid and Scholarships Office
Financial Wellness Center + Financial Coaching
- Through education, awareness, and mentoring, the FWC is designed to give all students tools and resources needed to empower them to make healthy financial decisions. Meet one-on-one with a financial wellness coach regarding your PSU student account, re-enrolling at PSU, resolving a debt owed to PSU, understanding the cost of college, creating a sustainable budget, repairing credit, or repaying student loans.
Student Financial Services
- Connect with SFS to ask questions about your student bill, collections, past due accounts, PSU payment plan, refunds, and more.
Food Security Resources
Basic Needs Hub
- The Basic Needs Hub provides students with one place to stop for all concerns related to basic needs support, including connecting students with local food resources and organizations.
PSU Food Pantry
- The PSU Food Pantry is a resource for currently enrolled students to acquire food items on a regular basis in a welcoming, inclusive, dignified environment.
Free Food Market
Housing Security Resources
Basic Needs Hub
- The Basic Needs Hub provides students with one place to stop for all concerns related to basic needs support, including connecting students with local housing resources and organizations.
University Housing and Residence Life
- UHRL oversees the on-campus residence halls and can support students interested in living on campus. UHRL can also connect students currently living on-campus with professional staff members for support.
Street Roots Rose City Resource Guide
Mental Health and/or Suicidal Ideation Resources
Center for Student Health and Counseling
Counseling Services
- For students experiencing an emergency, call SHAC during business hours to request a same-day emergency counseling appointment. 503-725-2800
Care. Ask. Connect. Suicide Prevention Training Course
- Join PSU's campus-wide movement to prevent suicide. Learn how to support someone with thoughts of suicide, as well as how to connect with mental health resources on- and off-campus. Here is the link to self-register for this asynchronous course: https://canvas.pdx.edu/enroll/P33DAT.
PSU Cares
- PSU CARES connects students with resources when they are experiencing distress or other concerns that might impact their personal or academic success. CARE Advocates meet with students to hear about their concerns and collaborate on a plan to optimize their ability to continue and succeed at PSU.
PSU Mind Spa
- A space on campus to relax and enjoy biofeedback, light therapy, massage chairs, meditation and more.
Local Portland Resources:
- Lines for Life (local suicide prevention organization offering multiple identity-specific crisis lines available 24/7)
Personal or Community Safety Resources
Campus Public Safety Office
- Emergency line: 503-725-5911
- Non-emergency line: 503-725-4407
File a Complaint of Discrimination or Harassment
Student Legal Services
- SLS provides FREE legal help to current PSU students.
Sexual & Relationship Violence Response Resources
Women’s Resource Center (serves all genders!)
- Sexual and Relationship Violence Response Program at the WRC offers trauma-informed confidential advocacy services to students who are currently experiencing or have previously experienced sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking.
- Book an appointment with a Confidential Advocate online here
- Students who would like to talk to someone confidentially may schedule to talk to a Confidential Advocate at 503.894.7982
Local Portland Resource:
- Call to Safety (provides a comprehensive 24/7 crisis line, follow-up advocacy for survivors, support groups, community outreach and education, and sexual assault medical advocacy)
- Call to Safety Crisis Line: 888-235-56333 (free and confidential)
Substance Use and Recovery Resources
Peer Recovery Support at SHAC
- Students in recovery or interested in recovery connect with a peer with shared lived experience; previously offered Sober Social Hour and SMART Recovery Meetings; connect with a Peer Recovery Specialist to learn more.
Individual Substance Use Counseling at SHAC
Local Portland Resource:
