CAMHS FAQs

The CAMHS Cares mental health support line is available 24/7 to provide in-the-moment support over the phone. CAMHS Cares can help address urgent concerns, as well as support with problem solving, processing a recent stressor, or working through a difficult moment. To access the CAMHS Cares Line, dial (617) 495-2042 and follow the prompts to be connected with a clinician.

If it is an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.

If you believe you are not having an emergency but need to talk with a clinician urgently the same day (Mon-Friday), you can call CAMHS at (617) 495-2042 and request a same-day appointment (in-person or virtual) during regular office hours.

CAMHS offers support to help with a variety of concerns, including stress, adjustment to college, anxiety, depression, mood swings, difficulties with focus and concentration, eating concerns, loneliness and isolation, grief, relationship problems, sexuality, social/racial/cultural concerns, traumatic experiences, managing a chronic health condition, addictive behaviors, perfectionism, procrastination, and uncertainties or planning associated with academics or career.

Even if you are not yet certain that you would like to begin services, CAMHS can help by sharing information about the resources available and the steps involved in getting started. Students are welcome to schedule an initial phone consultation to receive support in determining whether/which options might be a fit for their needs and preferences.

We would ask that you communicate directly with your provider. If you prefer not to share your feedback directly with CAMHS, here are some other options:

• Contact the HUHS Patient Advocate, Mallory Finne, by sending an email to or calling (617) 495-7583. You can also submit a feedback form on the HUHS website: Patient Advocate – Harvard University Health Services
• Online anonymous satisfaction surveys you receive following your appointments will be reviewed by CAMHS Leadership.

During your initial phone consultation, you can specify if you have preferences regarding a clinician’s area of expertise and/or the characteristics of the clinicians themselves. We will do our best to meet your requests based on availability and your mental health concerns. You may also review CAMHS staff bios. Remember that all clinicians are well versed in college counseling and common concerns experienced by students.

In-person Urgent Care appointments are available in CAMHS on business days (8am to 6pm Monday through Thursday and 8am to 5pm Friday) for significant mental health issues, urgent distress, or crisis situations. Please call (617) 495-2042 to schedule an Urgent Care visit or to speak first with a CAMHS Cares clinician who is available 24/7 if you are unsure of whether an urgent care visit is warranted.

What Urgent Care is:

In a CAMHS Urgent Care appointment, a student and clinician will focus on reducing immediate distress and increasing problem-solving while identifying next steps and resources to enhance mental health and wellbeing. This might include:

• Scheduling more appointments to begin counseling or continue therapy,
• Making an appointment with a CAMHS prescriber to assess for medication,
• Accessing CAMHS workshops or groups or other resources on campus,
• Widening one’s support system in stressful situations or, in rare situations,
• Transferring to a hospital if a higher level of care is necessary.

What Urgent Care is not:

• Urgent Care appointments are not “drop-in appointments,” nor are they therapy appointments.
• They are also not meant for discussing an accommodation request related to a disability or for requesting documentation from a clinician.
• We will not initiate a non-urgent prescription (such as ADHD medications) in an Urgent Care visit. It’s helpful to plan ahead before each semester begins.

Please remember to call (617) 495-2042 first to schedule an Urgent Care appointment before coming to CAMHS so that we may help you reduce time spent in our waiting room and provide support to you as expeditiously as possible.

During your initial phone consultation, a CAMHS Access Coordinator will provide information on the various pathways for therapy, including the frequency/duration and scope of care associated with each option. You will receive support in determining which route aligns with your goals, preferences, and treatment needs.

CAMHS offers a short-term counseling model, and students who pursue counseling at CAMHS will work with their clinician to determine the duration of treatment.

Some students find that their episode of care at CAMHS resolves their concerns and/or achieves their treatment goals. Other students opt to transition to longer-term therapy or services that utilize a particular treatment modality. Students interested in continuing with services outside of CAMHS will be reconnected with an Access Coordinator who will provide support and guidance in finding an appropriate provider.

Psychoeducational workshops are skills-based, typically consisting of 4-8 sessions, and are voluntary to join. Most are drop-in as needed, but you will get the most benefit by attending the series.

Support groups are also drop-in and require communication with the group facilitator to ensure the right fit (for example, the Recovery or Queer Support Groups).

Therapy groups require a referral from your CAMHS clinician and a clinical pre-screening with the group facilitator. Therapy groups typically have 6-8 members (for example, the Graduate Students Support Group or a Grief group).

Check the CAMHS calendar for current listings.

To request a future workshop or mental health resources presentation for your program, reach out to Tara Cousineau, PhD, Marketing and Community Engagement Specialist, who can direct you.

Psychiatrists and Psychiatry Residents prescribe medication at CAMHS.

Social Workers, Psychologists, Licensed Mental Health Counselors, and Social Work and Psychology Interns focus on counseling and support and do not prescribe medication.

Services at CAMHS are offered at no cost and are covered by your student health fee.

However, if you do not cancel your appointment ahead of time and simply do not show up for a scheduled appointment, you will incur a $25 fee. If you incur the $25 no-show fee and would like to appeal it, please fill out and follow the instructions on the Missed Appointment Fee Appeal Form.

There may be costs associated with receiving care outside of CAMHS. You can schedule an initial phone consultation to speak with an Access Coordinator about the available service options and potential fees associated with the different resources.

Initial phone consultations are scheduled for 20 minutes.

Counseling appointments are approximately 45 minutes long.

Initial sessions with Prescribers (Psychiatrists, Clinical Nurse Specialists, and Psychiatry Residents) are typically 60 minutes. Follow-up appointments with prescribers range from 15-30 minutes.

Urgent Care appointment length is typically 45 minutes and varies based on your presented needs.

During your initial phone consultation, a CAMHS Access Coordinator will provide information on the various pathways for therapy, including the frequency/duration and scope of care associated with each option. You will receive support in determining which route aligns with your goals, preferences, and treatment needs.

Students may seek therapy outside of CAMHS if they are interested in seeing a therapist weekly/more frequently or if they are looking for longer-term support. Some students are looking to work with a provider who offers a particular therapeutic modality or who is trained in a specific diagnostic area, so they will opt for a community-based therapist with associated experience. Students may also be seeking a provider who presents with specific background, affinity, or identity attributes and find that there is a clinician outside of CAMHS who aligns with their preferences.

Access Coordinators will provide you with information on local therapists who are in-network with your insurance plan (or otherwise suit your budget), who align with your preferences, and who have recently indicated that they have availability in their practice for new clients. For more information, see Finding Mental Health Care Off Campus.

Please call (617) 495-2042 to cancel your appointment in a timely manner, which will allow us to offer an appointment to another student who needs services.

If you do not cancel your appointment ahead of time and simply do not show up for a scheduled appointment, you will incur a $25 fee. If you incur the $25 no-show fee and would like to appeal it, please fill out and follow the instructions on the Missed Appointment Fee Appeal Form.

Your clinician will contact you via secure email or phone if you cancel an appointment or do not show up for the appointment. This is one way we can follow up with you to check on your well-being and ask if you are interested in continued care.

Mental health hospitalizations occur only after careful assessment by your clinician. We are committed to helping you stay engaged in your academic programs, but sometimes mental health concerns warrant a higher level of care than can be provided at CAMHS. Most hospitalizations are voluntary, meaning the student agreed they would benefit from intensive treatment.

Confidentiality is maintained throughout the hospitalization process, including intake, treatment, and discharge. The reason for hospitalization cannot be disclosed without your consent. Students residing in University accommodations should expect their Dean to be informed that they have been transported to a hospital, but further details are only released with your permission.

Typically, the agency requesting the security clearance contacts CAMHS after notifying you (we need your permission to release information, and usually, the agency has already asked you to sign a release). All security clearance inquiries are reviewed by the CAMHS Senior Director.

The HUHS Health Information Services/Medical Records department is responsible for safeguarding each patient’s medical record information. HUHS also processes your health documentation, immunization forms and requirements, and authorizes access to your online medical record. Visit the medical records webpage.