There are many agencies that provide mental health services which you can find below. You can also reach out to Maggie Erickson if you would like support with your mental health or finding mental health services off campus.
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please use one of the numbers below. If it is an emergency, call 911.
United Way 2-1-1 provides free and confidential health and human services information for people in Minnesota. Available by phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to connect you with the resources and information to meet your needs.
Text MNHELP to 898-211(TXT211) or call 211 (toll free at 1-800-543-7709) to speak with one of their highly trained information and referral specialists. Your call is completely confidential, and they have call menus in English, Spanish, and Hmong. Interpreters are also available for any language.
The Emergency Grant program can help students at risk of dropping out of college due to unexpected financial emergencies. Grants are awarded up to $1,000 and approved or denied based on need qualifications. The student must identify why they need the money, why it qualifies as an emergency and how it will help them to continue on with their education.
Below you will find nationwide crisis line numbers. Anyone can access these numbers if they are in crisis, feeling depressed and need someone to talk to. If they are in immediate danger or are actively suicidal with a plan and have access to that plan, have them call 911.
These are Minnesota county specific numbers. Individuals will need to call the number for the county they are currently in. Crisis teams can go to the person if they need to or can talk on the phone. Again, if they are in immediate danger or are actively suicidal with a plan and have access to that plan, have them call 911.
For additional counties that are not listed, visit the Minnesota Department of Human Services website to find the crisis numbers.
United Way 2-1-1 provides free and confidential health and human services information for people in Minnesota. They are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to connect you with the resources and information you need. Call 211 for support or text your zip code to 898211.
The Bridge to Benefits Screening Tool is a project by Children's Defense Fund-Minnesota to improve the well-being of families and individuals by linking them to public work support programs and tax credits. By answering a few simple questions, you'll be able to see if you or someone else may be eligible for public work support programs. You will NOT be asked for information that identifies you. It's easy, confidential and FREE!
Start the Screening ToolNOTE: This screening tool does not determine eligibility. It is only a guideline. After using this screening tool, you must apply to each program to be sure you are eligible.
There are no clear signs for what signifies a mental illness, mental illness looks different for everyone. For some, these symptoms may be due to a physical illness, for others, these might be their normal. If you feel concerned about any symptoms on this list, it could be helpful to talk with your doctor or a therapist to see if there is something more going on.
Learn more about Mental Illness warning signs at NAMI MN.
Self-assessments are helpful tools to name and validate what you are feeling. Self-assessments can support by learning about yourself and what next steps could be beneficial on your journey to wellness. Self-assessments are not diagnostic tools, they are supports to help you determine if you should seek professional help for a treatable mental health condition such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, eating disorders, substance use, etc. Access either of the self-assessment tools below to learn more.
1 in 4 adults will be diagnosed with a mental illness diagnosis. Finding the right therapist can take time and doing your research on therapists can be helpful. To learn more about finding a therapist that is a good fit for you, read this article.
Fact Sheets about Mental Illness Diagnoses
Where to search for any therapist:
Deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing adult therapists:
Mental Health Providers/Therapists of Color:
LGBTQ+ Therapists:
Spanish Speaking Services:
Free, Virtual Drop-In Counseling Services
The Mental Health Coalition was formed with the understanding that the mental health crisis is fueled by a pervasive and devastating stigma, preventing millions of individuals from being able to seek the critical treatment they need.
"We envision a world in which mental health is not associated with stigma, shame or judgement and all people feel empowered to openly discuss and address their individual mental health needs."
Find out more about services below:
The World Health Organization defines mental health as "A state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to their community." To learn more about ways to support your mental health and wellbeing, check out the resources below.
Anxiety
Burnout
Depression
Exercise
Gratitude
Mindfulness
Self-Compassion
Sleep
Stress management
The National Council on Problem Gambling has a 24/7 support line which can be reached at 1-800-522-4700. Their website also provides a variety of resources by state and other information on gambling addiction support.
The counselor is located in the main student office in office 2-130B.
You can contact DCTC’s front desk to schedule a time to come in, or stop by during business hours. You are also welcome to email the clinician to schedule directly.
All counseling appointments in Counseling Services are free of charge. This includes intake appointments, follow-ups, and walk-ins. If an assessment for medication is indicated and desired, we may facilitate a referral to a community provider.
The DCTC Counseling Center hours are as follows:
The counselor you meet with individually will discuss the reasons that brought you to the Counseling Center. They may ask what types of symptoms you are experiencing and how you have been coping. They may also ask questions related to your academics and any barriers you are encountering. During the first meeting, you and your counselor will discuss strategies for coping that best fit your needs, preferences, and resources.
You and your counselor will decide together what the focus of counseling should be. You may also set some specific goals and/or a timeline and schedule of meetings. During individual sessions, you'll talk about what is important to you at that moment. Your counselor can help you put your feelings and thoughts into words. Over time, we hope, the two of you will build a trusting and collaborative relationship.
Talking to someone who is not involved in any other part of your life and who is committed to helping you figure out what you want can help you understand things about your life and choices you may not have known before. Once you know yourself better and understand your situation more clearly, you are usually able to find creative solutions to problems and difficulties. Your counselor may have also direct advice, suggestions and information for you as you consider how to help yourself.
No, current DCTC students are allowed to meet with a counselor as needed. Session will be for what the State of Minnesota describes as a billable hour, which is anywhere from 53-60 minutes. Sessions can also be shorter than this as well.
All counseling sessions are free of charge.
If a student requires longer-term or more intensive psychotherapy or specialized care the Counseling Center cannot provide, we will make a referral to a clinician in the community who can provide that care. If you are referred to a clinician in the community, you will need to use your health insurance or pay out of pocket for that care. We will make every effort to make sure that referral fits your clinical and practical needs. If the referral is not working for you, for any reason, you are encouraged to contact the clinician at the Counseling Center that you initially saw to discuss your options.
Confidentiality: Information shared during a counseling session will be handled in a confidential manner to the extent permitted by law. Your records are classified as private data about you and can only be disclosed to others outside of the college if:
If you are having thoughts of suicide it is important that you let your counselor know. Suicidal thoughts vary greatly and understanding the nature of your thoughts will assist us in providing the best care to keep you safe and provide you the appropriate help.
In rare cases, a student may be in an acute crisis in which he/she demonstrates behavior that elicits serious and immediate concern about safety (either the student's or your own) or about the student's ability to function (e.g. poor contact with reality). In such acute cases, you are urged to contact either Public Safety and/or local law enforcement (911) or the crisis line (988). If you are unsure if the situation warrants this, a consultation with the counselor (651-423-8224) can help determine if emergency treatment is needed.
Students may request outside resources from DCTC if they do not feel a connection or are uncomfortable with the counselor. The current counselor desires that you get the help you need and certainly understands that a change in counselor may be needed for the best quality of care.
The Counseling Center does not provide readiness to return to work assessments, court mandated counseling, or documentation for therapy animals, emotional support animals, or service animals; however, we can assist you with identifying community mental health providers who may be able to assist you with these issues.
Your counselor can help you with study strategies, explore your learning style, test taking strategies, steps to reduce test anxiety, and ways to resolve personal concerns that may be interfering with your ability to concentrate on your studies. If a life trauma has prevented you from succeeding in classes during a particular semester, you and your counselor can discuss academic policies to consider.
