Aug. 18, 2025

New Ferris State partnership provides round-the-clock support for students experiencing a mental wellness crisis

Ferris State University is expanding its mental health resources by launching 24/7 crisis support for students experiencing a mental wellness emergency. This new service, designed to help students feel supported and succeed both academically and personally, begins today.

Through a partnership with Protocall Services, Ferris State’s Personal Counseling Center now offers round-the-clock access to licensed mental health professionals. The service is available to all Ferris State students and staff, every day of the week, at 231-591-HELP (4357).

Protocall, based in Portland, Oregon, has been providing mental health crisis support nationwide since 1992. Its trained clinicians offer immediate crisis de-escalation, emotional support, and safety assessments.

"The service will have a significant impact on all of our students at both Big Rapids and Grand Rapids campuses,” said Andy Slater, Director of the Personal Counseling Center. “In addition to helping our students who may find themselves in a mental health crisis, the service will be a new tool for Ferris State faculty and staff to use as they support students in need."

The need for increased mental health support continues to rise nationally. According to the National College Health Assessment, 53.4 percent of nearly 105,000 students surveyed in 2018 reported feelings of hopelessness, and about 42 percent said they felt "so depressed that it was difficult to function.”

This new service complements the existing offerings of Ferris’s Personal Counseling Center, located at 1019 Campus Drive, on the second floor of the Birkam Health Center. All services are free to currently enrolled students.

To schedule an appointment with a counselor, students can call (231) 591-5968 or email [email protected]. Urgent walk-in hours are available Monday through Friday at 3 p.m.