Emergencies and Crises

Students 

Urgent: Medical Problem

When the Tang Center is open:

Come directly to Urgent Care at the Tang Center. Urgent Care parking and entrance is located on Durant Avenue between Fulton and Ellsworth Streets. See Tang Center hours.

When the Tang Center is closed:

If you have an urgent medical problem that cannot wait until the Tang Center is open: 

Please note: Care may be at your own expense; emergency room care typically cost significantly more than urgent care centers.

Urgent: Mental Health Concerns

Although, CAPS and Social Services operate on an appointment basis, a student may face an urgent concern or crisis that feels too overwhelming to wait for a scheduled appointment.

When the Tang Center is open:

Counseling and Psychological Services

Come to Counseling and Psychological Services on the 3rd floor of the Tang, for in-person crisis assessment and intervention. Please inform a staff member at the reception desk that you have an urgent concern. Wait-times vary depending on the time of the day, but CAPS counselors will see all students in crisis on the same day they come in.  You can call CAPS at (510) 642-9494.

Social Services

For urgent concerns related to sexual assault, IPV, pregnancy, disordered eating, or alcohol and other drugs contact Social Services at (510) 642-6074 for in-person crisis assessment and intervention. Please inform a staff member at the reception desk that you have an urgent concern.

When the Tang Center is closed:

Call our After Hours Support line at (855) 817-5667 or (877) 211-3686. Also see Referral List for Crisis/Suicide Prevention Hotlines at the bottom of this page.

For guidance when helping a student who appears to be in crisis, see the Mental Health Handbook for faculty, staff and GSIs.
Sexual Assault In the event that you or someone you know is sexually assaulted, please do the following:
  • Get to a safe place first.
  • Do not shower or change your clothes.
  • Call someone you would like to have with you.
  • Call the police if you decide to report the assault and they will accompany you to the hospital for medical care.
  • If you are not ready to speak to the police, call the Advice Nurse Line at (510) 643-7197 to determine the best plan for taking care of yourself. When Tang is closed, call Bay Area Women Against Rape: (510) 845-7273.
  • Contact Social Services at UHS for follow-up counseling or other assistance, (510) 642-6074
Interpersonal Violence
(Domestic Violence)

When the Tang Center is open:

Get immediate medical attention. Come to Urgent Care at Tang. Urgent Care parking and entrance is located on Durant Avenue between Fulton and Ellsworth Streets.

When the Tang Center is closed:

Get immediate medical attention. Call campus police at (510) 642-3333 or your local police for assistance. For referrals to local resources call the 24/7 Advice Nurse Line at (510) 643-7197. 

Faculty/Staff

Life threatening emergency Go to the nearest hospital emergency department or call 911 (on-campus or off-campus) if an ambulance is needed. The closest hospital emergency room to campus is Alta Bates Hospital, 2450 Ashby Ave, just east of Telegraph Ave.

Urgent: 
Work-related injury or illness

 When Tang is Open:
  • Come directly to Urgent Care at Tang. Urgent Care parking and entrance is located on Durant Avenue between Fulton and Ellsworth Streets. See Tang Center Hours. For nonwork-related problems, call your primary care provider.

When Tang is Closed:
Urgent:
Medical problem		 Contact your health care provider directly.

Urgent: 
Mental health problem

 When the Tang Center is open:
  • Contact Employee Assistance, formerly CARE Services at (510) 643-7754. Confidential messages may also be left with Employee Assistance 24-hours a day at (510) 643-7754. A counselor will respond on the next business day.

When the Tang Center is closed:

Contact a community resource or your benefit plan:
  • Contact 24-Hour Community Crisis Line (800) 309-2131 or
Contact your mental health and substance abuse benefit plan through your UC health plan: 
  • Kaiser Permanente Psychiatry Services:
    • Oakland: (510) 752-1075
    • Richmond: (510) 307-1591
    • San Francisco: (415) 833-2292
    • Union City: (510) 675-3080
    • Walnut Creek: (925) 295-4145
  • Health Net (Managed Health Network) 24-Hour: (800) 663-9355
  • Pacificare Behavioral Health (PBH) 24-Hour: (800) 999-9585
  • Anthem Blue Cross (United Behavioral Health) 24-Hour: (888) 440-8225
Campus Crisis Employee Assistance and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) can help with crisis intervention and debriefing in the event of a death or other tragedy on the campus. Please call Employee Assistance at (510) 643-7754 or CAPS at (510) 642-9494.

Community Crises/Suicide Prevention Hotlines 

You can call your local hotline but please note that any of these hotlines will assist you.

OrganizationPhone number
Crisis Support Services of Alameda County (24-hour) (800) 309-2131
Marin County 24-hour Crisis Hotline (415) 499-1100
Santa Clara County 24-hour Crisis Hotline (408) 279-3312
San Mateo County 24-hour Crisis Hotline (650) 368-6655
San Francisco 24-hour Crisis Hotline (415) 781-0500
San Francisco - TTY 24-hour Crisis Hotline (415) 781-2224
San Francisco Spanish (6pm-12am) Crisis Hotline (415) 989-5212
Alameda County Mental Health & Substance Abuse Access Program (provides referrals) (800) 491-9099
Berkeley 24-hour Crisis Hotline (800) 309-2131
Berkeley Mental Health Mobile Crisis Team (510) 981-5254

uc mental health handbookMental Health Handbook

A booklet on overall student mental health in UC system: 

Download Full Text Guide | Download Berkeley Campus Resource Insert