Mental Health & Well-Being Resources
Supporting Your Well-Being Throughout Graduate School
Graduate school can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but balancing academic expectations, research, teaching, financial responsibilities and personal commitments can also create challenges. Whether you're managing everyday stress, navigating a difficult relationship with an advisor, experiencing anxiety or depression, or simply looking for someone to talk to, support is available.
CU Boulder offers a range of mental health and well-being resources for graduate students, including individual counseling, graduate-specific therapy groups, workshops, confidential consultations and crisis support.
You don't need to be in crisis to seek support. The resources below can help you find the services that best meet your needs.
Immediate & Crisis Support
If you or someone you know needs urgent mental health support, help is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Life-threatening emergency: Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
- CU Boulder Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS): Call 303-492-2277 for 24/7 mental health support and assistance with urgent concerns.
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 for free, confidential crisis support.
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor.
- The Trevor Project: Provides crisis support for LGBTQ+ young people. Call 866-488-7386 or text START to 678678.
Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS)
CU Boulder's Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS) provides mental health support to students through brief individual counseling, group therapy, psychiatric services, workshops and referrals to community providers.
CAPS can help students address a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, stress, relationship difficulties, academic pressures and major life transitions.
Services Available Through CAPS and CU Boulder
Students seeking counseling can begin with a screening appointment. During this brief meeting, a CAPS provider will discuss your concerns and help identify the services or resources that may be most helpful.
CAPS offers free workshops designed to help students develop practical strategies for managing stress, anxiety, motivation, emotional challenges and everyday well-being.
Free app that is available to all CU Boulder students, designed to help you understand your mental health and provide you with the help you need right now.
Community mental health provider referrals - find a provider who takes your insurance and enjoys working with college students. National referrals available.
Free for all CU Boulder students. Telehealth platform that allows CU Boulder students to schedule and attend mental health appointments from any location using a smartphone, computer or another mobile device.
Graduate Student Therapy Groups
CAPS offers therapy groups specifically for graduate students, providing opportunities to connect with peers who may be experiencing similar challenges.
Finding a Community Mental Health Provider
Students seeking ongoing or specialized counseling may benefit from connecting with a provider outside the university.
CAPS can help students explore community-based mental health services. ThrivingCampus, an online provider directory, allows students to search for therapists based on insurance coverage, location and areas of specialization.
Find a Community Provider Through ThrivingCampus
Additional Mental Health & Well-Being Resources
Office of Victim Assistance (OVA)
The Office of Victim Assistance provides free, confidential support, consultation, advocacy and short-term trauma counseling to graduate students who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic, disturbing or life-disrupting event.
OVA can assist students navigating experiences such as interpersonal violence, harassment, discrimination, relationship abuse, stalking, loss and other difficult circumstances. Students can receive support while exploring their options without being required to make a formal report.
Connect with the Office of Victim Assistance
Student Outreach, Advocacy & Support (SOAS)
Mental health challenges can sometimes affect academic progress, personal circumstances and students' ability to meet their responsibilities.
Student Outreach, Advocacy & Support (SOAS) assists students experiencing significant challenges, including hospitalization, family emergencies, financial hardship, food insecurity and housing instability.
Students, faculty and staff can refer a student who may benefit from coordinated assistance. SOAS is not a confidential counseling or emergency service.
Explore Student Outreach, Advocacy & Support
Disability Services
Graduate students with mental health conditions or other disabilities that affect their academic participation may be eligible for reasonable accommodations through CU Boulder's Disability Services office.
Accommodations are determined through an individualized process. Students are encouraged to contact Disability Services to learn about eligibility and available support.
Learn About Academic Accommodations
Mental Health & Academic Challenges
Mental health and academic well-being are closely connected. Graduate students may experience stress related to research progress, dissertation writing, teaching responsibilities, financial pressures, advisor relationships or uncertainty about their academic and professional futures.
If personal or mental health challenges are affecting your academic progress, you may benefit from seeking support through multiple university resources.
- Your graduate program or academic advisor: Discuss academic expectations, timelines and options for adjusting responsibilities when appropriate.
- The Graduate School: Seek guidance about graduate academic policies, degree progress and available campus resources.
- Disability Services: Explore reasonable academic accommodations when a disability affects your participation.
- Counseling and Psychiatric Services: Connect with counseling, therapy groups, psychiatric services and other mental health resources.
- Student Outreach, Advocacy & Support: Seek assistance when significant personal circumstances are affecting your ability to continue your studies.
If your concerns involve your relationship with an advisor or another faculty member, you may contact your graduate program leadership or the Graduate School for guidance about available options.
Supporting a Fellow Graduate Student
If you're concerned about a colleague or fellow graduate student, reaching out and helping them connect with appropriate resources can make a meaningful difference.
CU Boulder offers training and guidance to help students, faculty and staff recognize signs of distress and respond appropriately.
Mental Health First Aid provides training in recognizing potential mental health challenges and connecting individuals with support.
You may also contact Student Outreach, Advocacy & Support to refer a student who appears to need additional assistance.
For urgent mental health concerns, call CAPS at 303-492-2277. If there is an immediate threat to life or safety, call 911.
Explore Mental Health Resources and Training
Mental health services may have different eligibility requirements, locations, appointment procedures and availability. Visit the linked campus offices for the most current information.