Counseling & Wellness
Student Health Services
Student health and wellness services support the College mission, to prepare and inspire students for success and for thoughtful engagement in the world, by providing prevention-focused, accessible and high quality health care and counseling for a diverse student population.
We are dedicated to encouraging behaviors that change or eliminate health-related barriers to learning, and to promoting optimal physical, intellectual, emotional, spiritual and community wellness.
Davis & Elkins College has partnered with Community Care of West Virginia to offer a school-based health center. The clinic is located in the Robert C. Byrd Center for Hospitality and Tourism. For information on hours and medical staffing, click here.
Emergencies
In the case of a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the Davis Medical Center Emergency Room. In the case of mental health emergencies or crises after hours, students may contact the Appalachian Community Health Center at 304-636-3232. Students can also call Women’s Aid in Crisis at 304-636-8433.
Referrals
Referrals may be made to the Office of Student Life (304-637-1211) by faculty, staff, parents and students if there are concerns about a student. Please note that unless the student consents, information cannot be shared about the student with the person making the referral.
Confidentiality
The content of Student Health Services visits will be kept confidential. Information shared will not be given to individuals who are not on the professional staff without knowledge and written permission. There are some exceptions arising from ethical and legal requirements, such as imminent harm to a student or someone else (including child abuse or elder abuse), and certain legal situations which require disclosure. These limitations will be discussed at the first appointment.
Counseling Services
D&E’s Office of Counseling and Wellness Services has transitioned to Community Care of West Virginia’s D&E school-based health center, located on the first floor of the Robert C. Byrd Conference Center.
Community Care of West Virginia offers behavioral health counseling services by appointment from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Walk-in appointments are based on availability. If you would like to schedule behavioral health counseling services with Community Care of West Virginia’s D&E school-based health center, please call 304-473-5626. Community Care of West Virginia’s behavioral health provider is Lori Thompson, LPC.
For complete information about the services offered through Community Care of West Virginia’s D&E school-based health center, please visit the CCWV D&E School-Based Health Center website.
The content of the meetings with a professionally credentialed counselor will be kept confidential. Information shared will not be given to individuals without the student’s knowledge and written permission. There are some exceptions arising from ethical and legal requirements such as imminent harm to a student or someone else (including child abuse or elder abuse) and certain legal situations, which require disclosure. These limitations will be discussed at the first appointment.
Professional, licensed counselors and pastoral counselors who provide mental health counseling to members of the College community (including those who act in that role under the supervision of a licensed counselor) are not required to report any information about a Sexual or Gender-Based Misconduct incident to the Title IX Coordinator or Deputy Title IX Coordinators without the Reported Victim’s written permission. Please visit the College’s Gender-based Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct Policy for information regarding confidentiality and sexual offenses.
The College psychologists/counselors are not considered “campus security authorities” and are, therefore, not required to report crimes for inclusion into the College’s annual disclosure of crime statistics without the client’s express consent.
COUNSELING AND WELLNESS SERVICES
The Office of Public Safety is available 24/7 and can be reached at 304-704-9111.
Students of Concern
Contact the Director of Student Recruitment and Success at 304-637-1983 or studentsuccess@dewv.edu or submit their concern via the Student of Concern Reporting Form. After a referral is received, an attempt will be made to contact the student to offer support.
Please note that unless the student consents, the Office of Student Life will not be able to share information about the student with the person making the referral. See the College Student of Concern Policy for additional information.
Care Team
The College is committed to supporting student well-being and to maintaining continuity of its educational mission at all times. In that regard, the College provides a procedure for the referral, evaluation, and appropriate disposition of students of concern. Faculty, staff, and students at all levels of the College may identify students of concern, including students displaying disruptive behavior, and bring them to the attention of the Office of Student Life, the Office of Public Safety or the Director of Counseling and Wellness. Additionally, reports can be made online on the Student of Concern Reporting Form.
More information about the Care Team behavioral assessment, terms and definitions, goals, procedures, and case and policy review can be found in the Student Life Policies.
EMERGENCY AND CRISIS INFORMATION
In the event of an emergency, please call 911 or go immediately to the nearest emergency room located at Davis Medical Center, 812 Gorman Ave. in Elkins, WV 26241. You may also contact the Davis & Elkins College Office of Public Safety available 24/7 at 304-704-9111. Appalachian Community Health Center in Elkins can be contacted 24/7 at 304-636-3232 and Centers Against Violence in Elkins (formerly Women’s Aid in Crisis) can be contacted 24/7 at 304-636-8433 or by text at 304-840-SAFE(7233). In addition, the Elkins Police Department may be contacted at 911.
Suicide Prevention
Depression and suicide are serious public health problems that cause immeasurable pain, suffering and loss to individuals, families and communities nationwide. Davis & Elkins College is committed to working with its state and federal partners, public and private organizations, community partners and others to provide the assistance and prevention resources needed.
West Virginia House Bill 2535, or “Jamie’s Law,” was passed during the 2015 Regular Legislative Session. Jamie’s Law requires public middle and high school administrators to disseminate and provide opportunities to discuss suicide prevention awareness information to all middle and high school students; requires each public and private institution of higher education to develop and implement a policy to advise students and staff on suicide prevention programs available on and off campus; requires each public and private institution of higher education to provide all incoming students with information about depression and suicide prevention resources available to students; requires the posting of certain information on the website of the public and private institutions of higher education, the Higher Education Policy Commission and the Council for Community and Technical College Education; and requires the Bureau for Behavioral Health and Health Facilities to post on its website suicide prevention awareness information.
Depression is a debilitating mental illness that can cause an individual to feel persistently sad or hopeless, experience decreased energy, to lose interest in activities he or she used to enjoy, feel irritable, experience difficulties with sleep, have trouble concentrating, experience changes in appetite, and/or feel unexplained aches and pains. In some cases, individuals may think about death or suicide.
These warning signs may indicate that someone is thinking about suicide:
- They talk about wanting to die or wanting to kill themselves.
- They look for ways or means to kill themselves, such as searching online.
- They are isolating themselves or withdrawing from others.
- They are sleeping too much or too little.
- They say they feel “hopeless” or that they have “no reason to live.”
- They say they feel “stuck,” “trapped” or “in unbearable pain.”
- They say that they feel like they are a burden to others.
- They are behaving more recklessly or engaging in more risk-taking behaviors.
- They are using an increased amount of alcohol or drugs.
- They demonstrate unusual changes in mood or behavior.
- They are act anxious, irritable or aggressively.
- They are giving away important or treasured possessions.
- They are visiting, calling, or writing messages to people to say goodbye.
If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, is in crisis or is seeking mental health or substance abuse treatment, below are resources that are available to help.
ADDITIONAL CAMPUS AND LOCAL RESOURCES
Below is a list of additional campus and local resources that you can contact for support:
D&E Office of Public Safety: 304-704-9111 (on call 24/7)
D&E Student Health Services: 304-637-1234
D&E Student Recruitment and Success – 304-637-1983
D&E Academic Support Services/Naylor Learning Center – 304-637-1266
Davis Medical Center: 304-636-3300
Appalachian Community Health Center: 304-636-3232 (on call 24/7)
Centers Against Violence – 304-636-8433
Students can also talk with a member of the Office of Student Life staff at any time by calling 304-637-1211. They are available to listen and help guide students through the many challenges of college life. Please note, however, that Office of Student Life staff, with the exception of the College chaplain and professionally credentialed campus nurse and psychologists/counselors, are required to report incidents of sexual misconduct, including sexual offenses, to the College’s Title IX coordinator. Moreover, as a “Campus Security Authority,” Office of Student Life staff are also required to report incidents of certain crimes to the Office of Public Safety for inclusion in the College’s campus crime statistics.
STATE AND NATIONAL RESOURCES
Prevent Suicide West Virginia
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention – West Virginia
Suicide Prevention Lifeline
The Trevor Project (for LGBTQ+)
The Veterans Crisis Line
Ulifeline
The Jed Foundation
Active Minds
Suicide Prevention Resource Center
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
National Alliance on Mental Illness
American Psychological Association
Anxiety and Depression Association of America
Free mobile applications
There are also a number of free mobile applications that are available to promote mental health and wellness and/or prevent suicide that include:
