Access and/or Referral to Services Addressing Personal Issues Policy

Lipscomb University will provide free, timely access and/or referral of students to services addressing personal issues which may impact their progress in the PA program. Students struggling with mental, emotional, or substance issues may directly access university resources or be referred by a faculty, staff, or fellow student.

Faculty and staff will utilize the Red Folder Resource (RFR) as a basis to identify and subsequently refer students for help and intervention. The RFR  guide will be used to:

• Find contact information for university and community resources available in order to make referrals and assist students in finding the appropriate resource.

• Identify a student in distress

• Assess for the presence of safety risk

• Determine the level of urgency needed for referral

• Respond to a sexual assault disclosure

Students may access university or community services directly or seek help from faculty, mentors, Director of Student Affairs, or staff who can provide the student with the necessary resources. 

For URGENT or EMERGENT care and counseling, students can access or be referred to:

• Tennessee Statewide Crisis Line/Mobile Crisis (available 24/7): 1-855-CRISIS-1

• Crisis Text Line: Text “HOME” to 741741

• Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988 or visit 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline website

• NOTE: In an emergency situation, please call 911 and/or Campus Security (615-966-7600)

For non-urgent care and counseling, students can access or be referred to:

• Lipscomb Counseling Center (available Monday through Friday, 8 AM - 5 PM): Appointments can be made online through the online portal or by calling 615-966-1781.

• TimelyCare (available 24/7): TimelyCare is an online platform that provides telehealth services for Lipscomb students free of charge. Services include virtual medical visits, mental health support, counseling, psychiatry services, and health coaching. Timely Care can be accessed via the web or through the smartphone app. Additionally, the TImelyCare portal can be accessed directly from the navigation column in your Canvas course using your Lipscomb University single sign-on credentials. More information on TimelyCare can be accessed HERE on the Lipscomb University website.

Faculty, staff, and students may also report students of concern to the Campus Assessment Response and Evaluation Team (CARE Team). A student of concern is any student who may benefit from any additional support or connection to resources. This may include but is not limited to, any student who has experienced the loss of a loved one, is in need of additional academic or financial support, is dealing with any physical or mental health challenges, or has expressed harm to self or harm to others. The CARE team will partner with students as they navigate these challenges and connect them to the best available resources. Please note, CARE Team is not an emergency response team. In the event of an emergency situation, please call 911 and or Campus Security.

• Referral to the CARE team can be accessed HERE.

Physician Assistant students may also access the Tennessee Medical Foundation’s Physician Health Program for assistance with substance abuse, addiction, and mental or emotional illness

• Tennessee Medical Foundation

• TMF Brochure

• Students may also use the free voluntary, confidential, completely anonymous mental health self-screening tool, Tennessee Professional Screening Questionnaire (TN PSQ).

Additional information regarding student wellbeing can be found by accessing the Lipscomb University Student Wellbeing website.