Coping Tools
Last updated: 10/24/2023
Self-help and crisis resources for coping with stress, anxiety, and other concerns.
Reach a licensed mental health professional by phone outside of our regular hours of operation by calling CPS at 212-854-2878. Follow the prompts to be connected to a counselor.
Sexual Violence Response offers 24/7 support 365 days a year via the SVR Helpline at 212-854-4357 (HELP).
For resources specific to managing concerns around COVID-19, visit our Coping with COVID-19 resource page.
For resources to manage loss and grief, visit our Coping with loss and grief guide.
Beyond resources in Columbia Health and on campus, there are many helpful resources available online and in the greater NYC community.
Crisis Help
What: Available 24/7. Speak with a professional or peer counselor for confidential, non-judgmental emotional support, suicide prevention, crisis support, and help accessing mental health and substance abuse care.
Chat online: https://nycwell.cityofnewyork.us/en/
Call: 1-888-NYC-WELL or 1-888-692-9355
Text: Text WELL to 65173
Languages:
- English: 1-888-NYC-WELL (1-888-692-9355)
- Press 2 Call 711 (Relay Service for Deaf/Hard of Hearing)
- Español: 1-888-692-9355, Press 3
- 中文: 1-888-692-9355, Press 4 I
- Interpreters are available for 200+ languages.
What: Provides crisis intervention for students age 25 and under identifying as LGBTQ. Support on a variety of issues affecting emotional well-being, whether or not concerns are directly related to identifying as LGBTQ.
Call: 1-866-488-7386. Available 24/7.
Chat online: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help-now. Available 7 days/ week from 3pm-10pm EST.
Text: TREVOR to 202-304-1200. Available Monday-Friday, 3-10pm EST
What: Connect with a Crisis Counselor, a real-life human being trained to bring texters from a hot moment to a cool calm through active listening and collaborative problem solving. Available 24/7
Text: Text HOME to 741741
Website: https://www.crisistextline.org/
What: Available 24/7. Free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.
Call or text: 988
TTY: use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988
Chat online: 988lifeline.org/chat
What: Available 24/7/365. SAHMSA’s (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Resources) Disaster Distress Helpline provides immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster, pandemic (including COVID-19) etc.
Call: 1-800-985-5990 (English and español)
TTY: 1-800-846-8517
Text:
(English) Text TalkWithUs to 66746
(español) SMS Hablanos al 66746
What: Available 24/7/365. Speak with someone for high quality, responsive information, and referral throughout New York State for individuals experiencing substance abuse and problems with gambling. Offered through the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS). Toll-free and confidential.
Call: 1-877-8-HOPENY or 1-877-8-467369
Text: Text HOPENY to 467369
Languages:
- English
- Spanish
- Bengali
- Traditional Chinese
- Haitian-Creole
- Korean
- Russian
New York City
New York City Domestic Violence Hotline
What: Available 24/7. For safety planning, referrals, and access to emergency housing for survivors of stalking and domestic violence.
Website: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/hra/help/domestic-violence-support.page
Call: 1-800-621-HOPE (4673), or 311 to get connected. For TDD, call 1-866-604-5350.
Safe Horizon
What: Available 24/7. Provides support and advocacy for safety planning, resources, and connection to Domestic Violence Shelters
Website: https://www.safehorizon.org
Call
- Domestic violence: 1-800-621-4673
- Crime victims (including support for family members of homicide victims): 1-866-689-4357
- Rape and sexual assault: 1-212-227-3000 or 311 to get connected.
Sanctuary for Families
Safety Plan
What: A safety plan (a set of steps one can take to reduce the risk of harm in unsafe situations with an abuser or family member) designed with changes in the current environments due to coronavirus in mind.
Website: https://sanctuaryforfamilies.org/safety-planning-covid19/
Languages:
- English
- Spanish
Helpline
What: Available Monday—Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM ET. To request services including shelter, counseling, legal representation or economic empowerment.
For crisis intervention, shelter, and counseling:
- Call: 1-212-349-6009 x1367
- Text: 929-335-9922
For legal services including orders of protection, divorce, immigration, and child custody, visitation and support:
- Call: 1-212-349-6009 x8000
- Text: 646-692-0300
New York City Family Justice Centers
What: Available Monday—Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM ET. Providing walk-in service for comprehensive civil legal assistance, counseling, and supportive services to victims of domestic and gender-based violence
Website: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/ocdv/programs/family-justice-centers.page
Locations:
- Bronx
- Brooklyn
- Queens
- Manhattan
- Staten Island
New York City Coordinated Approach to Preventing Stalking (CAPS)
What : An initiative of the Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence, in collaboration with the New York City Police Department and local District Attorney's offices, to increase the identification and reporting of intimate partner stalking cases, enhance both stalking arrests and prosecutions and link victims to critical services.
Website: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/ocdv/programs/initiatives.page
Call: 212-788-3156
The New York City Hope Online Resource Directory
What: Resource directory includes information about community-based organizations that work with survivors of domestic and gender-based violence in all five boroughs.
New York State
NYS Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline
What: Available 24/7. Advocacy and 24/7 online chat and phone support.
Website: https://opdv.ny.gov/survivors-victims
Call: 1-800-942-6906
Text: 1-844-997-2121
National
National Domestic Violence Hotline
What: Available 24/7, confidential and free. Highly-trained advocates are available to talk/chat confidentially with anyone experiencing domestic violence, seeking resources or information, or questioning unhealthy aspects of their relationship.
Website: https://www.thehotline.org/
Call: 1-800-799-7233
Text: LOVEIS to 22522
Chat: https://www.thehotline.org/
Languages:
- English
- Spanish
National Sexual Assault Hotline
What: Available 24/7, confidential and free. Phone and online chat for survivors and their loved ones.
Website: https://rainn.org/
Call: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
Chat: https://hotline.rainn.org/online
Languages:
- English
- Spanish
The StrongHearts Native Helpline
What: Available daily, 7am-10pm CT. A safe domestic violence and dating violence helpline for American Indians and Alaska Natives, offering culturally-appropriate support and advocacy.
Website: https://www.strongheartshelpline.org/
Call: 1-844-762-8483
Trans Lifeline
What: Available 24/7. A peer support service run by trans people, for trans and questioning callers. This hotline is staffed exclusively by trans operators is the only crisis line with a policy against non-consensual active rescue.
Website: https://www.translifeline.org/
Call: 1-877-565-8860
National Human Trafficking Resource Center
What: Available 24/7. Connects victims and survivors of sex and labor trafficking with services and supports to get help and stay safe.
Website: https://humantraffickinghotline.org/
Call: 1-888-373-7888
Text: 233733
Chat: https://humantraffickinghotline.org/chat
Languages:
- English
- Spanish
- 200 additional languages through an on-call interpreter
See also:
What: Available Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM PST to 7:00 PM PST. Get emotional support from a trained Advocate and become empowered and a stronger parent.
Website: http://www.nationalparenthelpline.org/
Call: 1-855- 4A-PARENT (1-855-427-2736)
Access a library of over 3,000 mental and other health topics
Resources for Specific Concerns and Life Skills
CBT-i Coach
Website: https://mobile.va.gov/app/cbt-i-coach
What: Provides tools to improve sleep habits and prevent future insomnia, as well as access to educational materials about proper sleep hygiene.
Note: This app is not meant to be used as a substitute for psychological services but rather as an additional resource to augment ongoing treatment.
PTSD Coach
Website: https://mobile.va.gov/app/ptsd-coach
What: Provides support to people struggling with the aftereffects of trauma by educating users about trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It also provides tools to identity, track, and manage trauma symptoms.
Although some information specifically addresses veterans specifically, educational information and tools for tracking and managing PTSD symptoms are suitable for many people who have experienced a wide range of traumatic events.
Note: This app is not a substitute for psychological services but rather as an additional resource to augment ongoing treatment. While the app suggests some people may wish to wait to see if their trauma symptoms improve before seeking professional help, we believe that in the aftermath of trauma, it is best to reach out to a mental health professional.
Sexual Violence Response offers 24/7 support 365 days a year via the SVR Helpline at 212-854-HELP (4357)
SMART Recovery Toolbox
Website: http://www.smartrecovery.org/smart-recovery-toolbox/
What: Part of the SMART self-help program for substance abuse with influences from the 12 step model.
Focus Keeper
Website: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/focus-keeper-work-study-timer/id830466924
What: Uses the Pomodoro Method to help students who have trouble organizing their tasks, sustaining attention and/or managing work-related anxiety.
Eating Recovery Center
Website: Eating Recovery
What: Resources that can provide valuable connection and support for those struggling with and recovering from eating disorders, mood and anxiety disorders and substance use disorders.
A Guide to Coping with Loss and Grief (PDF)
Columbia Health developed a bereavement guide for students mourning the loss of a loved one, due to the loss of your social and academic life on campus, or due to the loss of a sense of certainty about the future in the wake of the global pandemic.
Mindfulness Resources
Video link: https://youtu.be/uQv01WkwHvo
What: Self-compassion has been shown to be a powerful tool for improving coping and enhancing emotional well-being. This self-compassion workshop was facilitated by Aisha Holder, PhD., Staff Psychologist and the Assistant Clinical Director for Outreach and Community Clinical Services for Counseling and Psychological Services.
During this in-person workshop, hosted in January 2023, she discussed the building blocks of self-compassion—mindfulness, self-kindness, and common humanity, explored myths about self-compassion, and led experimental exercises to practice incorporating the principles of self-compassion into daily lives.
Website: https://chrisgermer.com/meditations/
What: A website with free audio and written meditations that average 10-15 minutes in length. Examples include: Affectionate Breathing, Loving-Kindness for Ourselves, Giving and Receiving Compassion, Working with Difficult Emotions, Labeling Emotions, and Forgiving Ourselves.
Website: https://quietkit.com/
What: A website that presents a very simple, direct type of guided meditation for beginners, perfect for anyone getting started: focusing your attention on your breath, and nothing else, as you sit quietly.
The website provides free 2, 4, 6, 8 minute guided and 10 minute unguided meditations.
Insight Timer
Website: https://insighttimer.com/
What: Offers over 8,000 free guided meditations, 1,000 music tracks, polyphonic bells and ambient sounds, and stats/journaling to track progress.