There are a variety of situations that can be considered an emergency or crisis. Emerson Wellness Center offers the following information and services for when you or a friend is in a medical or mental health crisis.
What to Do in an Emergency
Medical Emergencies
A medical emergency is an injury, illness, or sudden event creating an immediate risk to a person's life or long-term health. Emergencies of this nature require immediate assistance from the emergency response system 911 call or heading to the nearest emergency department.
Responding to an Emergency
- Call 911 immediately. Give them the following information:
- Your name, and the name and approximate age of the person experiencing the emergency.
- Location. Be specific: Street name and number or intersection, building, floor, and room number.
- Describe the emergency situation the ill/injured person is experiencing. If the emergency is an accident, specify the type of accident: e.g., a fall, an auto accident, electric shock.
- Provide a callback telephone number.
- Stay on the line until you are told to hang up.
Whenever possible, the Emerson College Police Department will facilitate transportation for urgent medical situations on campus. Call Emerson Police on its emergency line at 617-824-8888 after calling 911. They can provide additional assistance and help direct the emergency responders.
Local Emergency Departments
- Tufts Medical Center
860 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02111
617-636-5566 - Massachusetts General Hospital
55 Fruit Street, #2622
Boston, MA 02114
617-724-4100 - Boston Medical Center
725 Albany Street,
Boston, MA 02118
617-414-4075
Mental Health Emergencies
- Call 911 immediately. Give them the following information:
- Your name, and the name and approximate age of the person experiencing the emergency.
- Location. Be specific: Street name and number or intersection, building, floor, and room number.
- Describe the emergency situation the ill/injured person is experiencing. If the emergency is an accident, specify the type of accident: e.g., a fall, an auto accident, electric shock.
- Provide a callback telephone number.
- Stay on the line until you are told to hang up.
- If you or someone else is having thoughts of suicide, impulses to hurt yourself or another person, severe confusion or disorientation, or if you have just been the victim of violence or assault, contact emergency services immediately.
- References to suicide should always be taken seriously and immediate responses are critical.
For After-Hours Crisis Service
- Talk to a therapist by calling 617-824-8666 and following the prompts or call Mantra Health at 888-319-0068
- This line will be answered 24/7/365 for Emerson students in any location.
- View: Helplines, Suicide Hotlines, and Crisis Lines by Country
Sexual Assault
If you have been sexually assaulted:
Please know that there are resources available to you, on- and off-campus, to support you immediately and over the long term.
You can find
A survivor seeking to collect evidence for a possible court case must seek care at a hospital within 120 hours (5 days) of the assault; you can learn more information about medical care and the process of evidence collection.
The Emerson College Police Department (ECPD) is available 24/7 to respond to emergencies: 617-824-8888
The Office of Equal Opportunity (oeo [at] emerson.edu (oeo[at]emerson[dot]edu)) is responsible for addressing all incidents of sexual violence in the Emerson Community. OEO is available to support you, walk you through the College’s policies and processes, talk to you about your options, and make sure you have the information you need to make the decisions that are right for you.
The Healing and Advocacy Center (advocate [at] emerson.edu (advocate[at]emerson[dot]edu)) offers confidential support and advocacy-based counseling. Healing & Advocacy can help you access workplace, academic, and housing support and can attend meetings with you on- and off-campus.
Special Emergency Services
Phone Numbers
- National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-TALK (8255)
- Samaritans Hotline: 617-536-2460
- National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-HOPE (4673)
- Trevor Project LGBTQ Lifeline: 866-488-7386
- POC Text Crisis Line: Text "STEVE" to 741741
- Spanish Language Hotline: 800-223-5001
- Fenway Community Health Hotline (LGBTQA): 617-267-9001
- Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC): 800-841-8371
- Substance Abuse Information and Education Helpline: 800-327-5050
- Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860
After-Hours Care
We understand health and mental health concerns may arise after our normal business hours that may require an urgent or non-urgent evaluation by a healthcare professional. To support our students, Emerson Wellness Center offers the following information and services for when you or a friend is experiencing a non life-threatening health concern. Services are available after hours, weekends, and holidays.
After Hours Medical Advice (Urgent)
Options for students:
- Contact your Residential Assistant (RA) for assistance or Emerson Police at 617-824-8555 for those living On-Campus.
- The Nurse Telephone Triage Service by calling Emerson Wellness Center 617-824-8666.
- Emerson College Blue Cross/Blue Shield (BCBS) “Nurses Right Now” or call 1-888-247-BLUE (2583).
- Emerson College Cigna Global BFA call 1-800-441-2668.
- Services available 24/7 for students enrolled in the Emerson BCBS or Cigna insurance plans.
- You can check your health insurance company's website or member card to see if they offer a nurse line.
Non Urgent Issues
Health Services
Please contact our office during our business hours by calling 617-824-8666 or emailing healthservices [at] emerson.edu (healthservices[at]emerson[dot]edu).
Office Hours:
Monday to Friday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.