MSU CAPS: First-Generation College Student Empowerment Group

MSU CAPS will be having a first-generation college student empowerment group this semester. This support group will be in person at the MSU student union on Thursdays from 1 to 2PM. This space is about supporting and empowering first-generation college students through shared experiences.

Topics could include….

• Transition,
• Family
• Relationship dynamics
• Exploring values and identity
• Navigating cultural expectations
• Building community

For any first gen student who may be interested in joining, all they must do is click “Get Started” on the CAPS webpage (https://caps.msu.edu/index.html

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In crisis? Here is how to get help now:

CAPS provides remote crisis services 24/7/365. If you are in crisis and need to talk with someone, or are worried about a friend, call the CAPS Crisis Line at (517) 355-8270 and press “1” when prompted to speak with a crisis counselor. You will be connected to a confidential, no-charge counselor available to assist you with connecting to a variety of services and resources.

Please note that there may be periods of high contact volume for the CAPS crisis line or other emergency mental health services. During these high contact times, you may experience wait times to connect with a crisis counselor, which we understand can be distressing during a mental health crisis. Please know that wait times do not reflect lack of concern for your well-being; rather, wait times reflect the dedicated and thorough care that a caller before you is currently receiving, and that you can also expect to receive. To manage your emotions and thoughts during possible wait times, these practices may be helpful:

1. Imagery: use all your senses to visualize in vivid detail a calming, safe space
2. Breathe focus: take several long, slow deep breathes (i.e., abdominal or belly breathing)

         followed by slow and complete exhalations

3. Physical sensation: identify a sensory item that is calming for you (e.g., the smell of

         cinnamon, the feeling of a soft blanket) and engage with that item

**If a wait time becomes unmanageable for you, please attempt to connect with an alternative crisis resource or call 911 if you are an immediate threat to yourself or someone else. Some additional emergency resources are listed below.**

Additional Crisis Resources

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
• Community Mental Health of Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties: Walk-in or 24/7 Crisis Services: 517-346-8460
• MSU Center for Survivors Sexual Assault 24/7 Crisis Hotline: 517-372-6666
• Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860
• Trevor Project: 866-488-7386 or text 678-678
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233); Text “START” to 88788
• If you are in immediate danger to yourself or someone else please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room

E-mail is not a secure form of communication, confidentiality cannot be guaranteed. Please keep this in mind when deciding whether to send personal information. Staff members of CAPS do not use e-mail to communicate confidential information. Further, we cannot guarantee that e-mail messages will be read regularly or within a given period of time. It is especially important to note this in case of an emergency situation. If you have a need to communicate about matters other than scheduling, please contact us either in-person at CAPS or by phone (517-355-8270). In case of an emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.