Mental Health Resources for Law Students
In order to be the best lawyer, student, and person you can be, you need to make sure you’re taking good care of your mental health. Here we’ve listed some mental health resources within your reach that can help you get there. We’ve also ordered them from quick and short-term support to longer-term support so you can easily navigate your resources based on what type of support you’re looking for.
If you are considering utilizing Student Health Services, know that all BU Law students are eligible to do so regardless of insurance provider or plan.
Momentary, over-the-phone assistance for mental health emergencies
If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please know that you can access support. All of the following hotlines are a space where you can talk to someone and get help. If you are in need of urgent medical care or feel you are a present danger to yourself or others, please reach out to Student Health Services at (617) 353-3575, for assistance on the Charles River Campus. 911 can be used to request emergency services anywhere in the US. These two numbers and all of the following hotlines (except Trans Lifeline) are available 24/7.
On-Campus Hotlines
- The Behavioral Medicine Department of Student Health Services (SHS) can be reached 24/7 for mental health assistance at (617) 353-3569. During regular business hours, the Behavioral Medicine staff offers over-the-phone support and, outside of business hours, their line is staffed by licensed crisis counselors for students in need of urgent assistance.
- Similar to SHS, Sexual Assault Response & Prevention (SARP) can be reached at all times. SARP has four crisis counselors on rotation so that there is always a crisis counselor at hand. To get connected to a counselor, you may contact (617) 353-7277 at any time.
Local Hotlines
- If you are experiencing distress related to an experience of rape, sexual assault, or other forms of sexual violence, you may reach out to the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC). BARCC is located steps away from West Campus, and operates a 24/7 crisis hotline at (800) 841-8371. You can also chat with them online any day from 9am-11pm.
National Hotlines
- If you are having thoughts of self-harm or suicide, you can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline over the phone at 1 (800) 273-8255 or you can chat and text with them online.
- If you are concerned about an illness or disease diagnosis, including STDs and STIs, you may contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Hotline at 1 (800) 232-4636.
- If you want support due to an experience with sexual assault, you may call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1 (800) 656-4673 or connect with them online.
- If you want support due to an experience with abuse, you may contact the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline at 1 (866) 331-9474.
- If you are struggling with substance abuse, addiction, or recovery, you may call the Substance Abuse Treatment Referral Hotline at 1 (800) 662-4357.
- If you are experiencing mental distress related to your identity as a person of color, you may text the Crisis Text Line hotline created specifically to support young people of color and get in contact with a trained volunteer counselor by texting STEVE to 741741. This line was created in collaboration with the Steve Fund, an organization that seeks to uplift the mental health of young people of color.
- If you are struggling with mental distress related to your LGBTQ+ identity, you may call The Trevor Lifeline at 1 (866) 488-7386.
- If you are experiencing a mental health crisis due to your identity as a trans* person, you can contact the Trans Lifeline by calling (877) 565-8860 in between the hours of 10am-4am EST.
- If you are struggling due to your experiences as a veteran, you may reach out to the Veterans’ Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1 (800) 273-8255.
Resources and strategies for non-emergency momentary relief
- Student Health Services has a great guide of resources that may help you find momentary relief or short-term strategies for managing your emotions, including resources for mental health and health & wellness. Some of the resources on these pages include apps for emotional management, relaxation, and more, as well as various strategies similar to Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), a common form of therapy used to help people find momentary relief and management of feelings such as stress, anxiety, depression, and difficulty focusing. DBT techniques typically involve focusing on calming sensory information around you. However, do understand that DBT cannot replace the need for long-term, tailored support that a therapist or counselor could provide. If you believe you need more support, we strongly encourage that you seek out a therapist or counselor.
Short-term, in-person support
On-Campus Resources
- Student Health Services is your best point of contact. SHS offers 20-minute evaluation intake appointments on a daily basis. These appointments provide a space where you can express how you’re feeling and discuss what the best next steps are to support your mental health. Visit the Student Health Services website to learn more about how to make an appointment with Behavioral Health and what they typically include.
- Other than SHS, you have a wide range of administrators you can reach out to to speak informally on how you’re feeling, discuss any strategies for mitigating negative emotions, or get connected to more appropriate resources. You may choose to reach out to BU Law Student Affairs, professors you feel comfortable with, the BU Dean of Students Office, or other administrators you feel comfortable with. To meet with someone in Law Student Affairs, you can call us at (617) 358-1800 or email us at studaff@bu.edu. Visit BU’s DOS website to learn more or schedule a meeting with a DOS staff member.
Local Resources
- The Massachusetts branch of Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers offers free services to Massachusetts law students, including free in-person meetings with clinicians at their Downtown Boston office, which can act as assessments and a point to move forward from. LCL does not provide ongoing treatment but, similar to SHS, can help refer you to a longer-term practitioner. Learn more about how to schedule a meeting with an LCL-affiliated clinician and familiarize yourself with their terms of service and privacy policy.
- For those who have experienced sexual violence and are seeking short-term, in-person support in the form of individual or group counseling, you may choose to visit the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC), which is located steps away from West campus. Learn more about BARCC on their website or by calling (617) 492-8306.
Short-term support over-the-phone, over text, or over online chat
If you want to call someone, you may consider the following local resource.
- Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers offers over-the-phone mental health consultations at (617) 482-9600. Similar to BU Student Health Services, LCL does not provide ongoing behavioral medicine treatment but instead can help refer you to a longer-term practitioner. Learn more about how to schedule a meeting with an LCL-affiliated clinician and familiarize yourself with their terms of service and privacy policy.
If you want to text someone, you may consider the following national resources.
- If you would like to text a trained volunteer counselor, you can reach out to the general Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741. Visit the Crisis Text Line website to learn more about what using the text line looks like.
- In collaboration with The Steve Fund, an organization that seeks to uplift the mental health of young people of color, the Crisis Text Line also offers a line specifically for young people of color that provides more targeted support. If you are a young person of color struggling with your mental health, you can text STEVE to 741741 to get connected to a trained volunteer counselor.
If you want to chat online with someone, you may consider the following national resources.
- If you are looking to discuss your feelings related to an experience with sexual assault, you may choose to chat with the National Sexual Assault Hotline online.
- If you have had or are having thoughts of self-harm or suicide, you can express your feelings to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and access support through their online chat. If you are worried that you are a present danger to yourself or others, please reach out to the Student Health Services mental health crisis line at (617) 353-3569, if you are on campus, or 911, if you are off campus.
Finding longer-term, in-person support
Those interested in seeking out longer-term support should reach out to Student Health Services. In addition to providing short-term forms of support, BU Student Health Services also assists students in finding an appropriate counseling or therapy center on or off campus. More about SHS mental health referrals can be found on their Referral Services page.
NEW Resources for addressing the impact of social injustices and racism.
BU Law has collaborated with the Boston Medical Center (BMC) to help provide support services to students at the law school. Through the BMC’s Center for Multicultural Mental Health, BMC clinicians are available to address the psychological impact of social injustices, including racism and its effects on individuals and communities. Clinicians are committed to and passionate about creating a culture of inclusivity and promoting diversity. You may connect to get scheduled with them by email: bulawsup@bu.edu. For more information visit the Multicultural Mental Health website.