JHSAP Helps You Manage Life Challenges and Enhance Emotional Well-Being.
The Johns Hopkins Student Assistance Program (JHSAP) is a life management resource for students. JHSAP's licensed clinicians can help you identify and manage challenging issues in healthy ways. Getting help is free, convenient, confidential, and available 24/7/365 by calling 443.287.7000, option #1.
Who We Serve:
JHSAP serves students in the following JHU schools and programs:
- School of Medicine: graduate and medical
- School of Nursing
- Bloomberg School of Public Health
- School of Education
- School of Advanced International Studies
- Carey Business School
- Engineering for Professionals Program at the Whiting School of Engineering
- Advanced Academic Programs at the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences
JHSAP Services During the Intersecting Crises of 2020-2021:
We know that the COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing racial injustice crisis, and ongoing political upheaval are causing significant disruption, anxiety, and distress within our community. JHSAP is committed to supporting students, wherever they may be, with services to support their emotional well-being during these distressing and disruptive times.
- 24/7 mental health support is available for students by calling the JHSAP number: 443-287-7000, option #1.
- Televideo services are available for students who are in Maryland, DC, Pennsylvania, and Delaware and whose mental health needs can be served via telehealth. Televideo, phone, or email consultations will be scheduled for students outside these areas.
- Students who are already working with a JHSAP clinician may call JHSAP at 443-287-7000, option #1 or send their clinician a secure message to jhsap@jhu.edu for any non-urgent issues.
- JHSAP is glad to assist students in finding care resources within their communities.
- Consultation to staff and faculty will continue as usual.
How to prepare for your televideo JHSAP appointment
Privacy and confidentiality are essential to developing the trust that underlies a therapeutic relationship. Your clinician will be in a private space during your session, and to ensure that both you and your clinician are able to focus and speak openly, we ask that you also find a private space that is free from distractions. If someone enters your private space during the session, we ask that you let your clinician know so that you can pause the session until you’re alone again. We understand that at times, finding privacy can be challenging. If this is the case for you, please consult your clinician or JHSAP’s student assistance specialist so that we can help problem-solve.
We Welcome Your Feedback
We strive to provide high-quality health care and well-being resources?that recognize the values, experiences, and needs of?our?diverse?student?community. We believe that a confidential,?mutually respectful partnership between you and our staff and providers is the foundation necessary to?develop and maintain optimal health?and well-being. Understanding your?rights and responsibilities and engaging your feedback about services is central to this partnership.
Your feedback is important to us, so if you had a good experience or?have helpful suggestions,?we encourage you to share that directly with the staff or provider in the office you visited.?Our providers are trained to listen, answer your questions, and work with you to resolve concerns. For questions or concerns that arise prior to working with a provider, or if you feel it is best to speak with someone other than your provider, please share using our online feedback form.
Managing Your Emotional Well-being
JHSAP Urges you to attend to your emotional well-being and to reach out to us for support. Here are some additional tips to help you maintain perspective, manage your worry, and foster a positive outlook.
Practice Self-Care and Care for Others
- Take care of physical health.
- Get adequate and quality sleep. Consider using the Calm App, provided free to JHU students, to help you improve your sleep. Visit https://www.calm.com/jhu to obtain your free premium Calm account.
- Exercise at home or while maintaining social distancing outside.
- Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals.
- Avoid alcohol, drugs, and illegal substances.
Exercise purposeful, mindful attention to move away from negative thoughts and focus on positive ones.
- Listen to guided meditations on the Calm app before bed or early in the morning.
- Practice deep breathing exercises throughout the day, using the Calm App for guidance as needed.
- During the day, pause and focus on the activity you’re engaged in.
- Set a daily intention or value.
- Focus on the positive. Identify irrational and negative thoughts, and challenge them. Consider journaling to support this focus.
Identify the onset of a strong emotional response: look for the early signs of a strong emotional response or being in a “loop” of negative thoughts, then use techniques to control the emotional response, such as deep breathing or leaving the distressing situation.
Maintain a list of personal stress-reducing and enjoyable activities to refer to during times of crisis.
Maintain a routine at home.
Create a separate workspace at home to improve productivity and create boundaries.
Select and limit intake of news and information. For JHU-specific COVID-19 information, consult the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.
Think creatively about ways to stay connected with others and maintain regular contact with those especially affected by these crises.
In close quarters, try to reduce and manage disagreements with others by focusing on listening and setting specific times to openly talk about disagreements or frustrations.
Recognize the Signs of Distress
If you're experiencing the following signs and symptoms, call JHSAP to receive compassionate, confidential, professional support and guidance:
- Increased worry, fear, and feelings of being overwhelmed
- Depressive symptoms that persist and/or intensify
- Inability to focus or concentrate accompanied by decreased academic or work performance or performance of other daily activities
- Sleep difficulties
- Excessive crying
- Isolating or withdrawing from others
- Unhealthy coping (e.g., increased alcohol or drug use, engaging in risky/impulsive behaviors)
- A feeling of hopelessness and/or a paralyzing fear about the future
- Sudden anger or irritability, or noticeable changes in personality
Take the Stress and Depression Self Assessment:
The Stress and Depression Questionnaire is an anonymous, online tool that generates a confidential assessment of how stress and depression may be affecting you. A JHU counselor will evaluate your responses and provide personalized feedback. You will also have the option to chat anonymously with a counselor to learn about available resources and options for treatment at Johns Hopkins and in the community.
Seek Support
It is common to experience signs of distress during times of uncertainty. If you notice these signs in yourself, reach out to family and friends for support, and engage in your usual heathy coping strategies (e.g. moderate exercise; eating well; getting adequate sleep; practicing yoga, meditation, or some other mindfulness activity; taking time for yourself; engaging in a hobby or other fun activity, etc.).
If your distress continues or increases to make it difficult to manage your day-to-day activities, then seek professional help. JHSAP is available 24/7 by calling 443-287-7000.
Additional Free Campus Resources to Support Emotional Well-being:
JHSAP can help you navigate these resources and provides 24/7 support to address concerns at 443-287-7000. Resources include
- SilverCloud: an online, self-guided, interactive mental health resource that provides students with engaging activities, tools, videos, and exercises 24-hours a day. SilverCloud is free for full time JHU students. Sign in at: jhu.silvercloudhealth.com/signup/.
- Calm app: a meditation and relaxation aid for sleep and well-being. Get the calm app for free at www.calm.com/jhu.
- Thriving Campus: a user-friendly referral platform. Students search providers in their area based on their insurance and mental health needs. No login information is required, so regardless of enrollment status, this is an accessible service. Go to jhu.thrivingcampus.com.
- TimelyCare: a convenient way for JHU students to receive 24/7, no cost mental health support through TalkNow (talk about anything, anytime) and Scheduled Counseling for common issues and concerns that can be safely and accurately discussed and treated virtually. All you need is an internet connection. TalkNow is available in the US and countries that permit web access to the site. Scheduled Counseling is available in the US only. This service is free of charge to enrolled students. timelycare.com/jhu. *Please note: Students in the School of Medicine should use their @jhmi email to log in. All other students and learners should use their @jhu.edu or @jh.edu email.
Statement on Racial Injustice and Resources for Racial Trauma:
The Johns Hopkins Student Assistance Program stands in solidarity with members of our Black community and other communities suffering across the nation. We rededicate ourselves to actively opposing the powerful systems of racial injustice that remain at work in the United States and at Johns Hopkins. To that end, the JHSAP team commits to
- Increasing collaboration with students, student groups, and offices, programs, and leaders across the University to create culturally sensitive, skillful programming that supports and uplifts the diverse JH student community;
- Building a staff that reflects the diverse student community;
- Enhancing our own cultural competencies; and
- Exploring our own internal biases and blind spots through ongoing training and team exploration.
As helpers and members of the JHU community, we will uplift the voices of the Black community and offer belief, hope, and love. JHSAP will provide an affirming environment for counseling, consultation, and referral customized to meet individual needs.
We encourage students, as well as staff and faculty who serve them, to call or email us for support and resources for trauma and healing: 443-287-7000, option #1; jhsap@jhu.edu.
Coping Strategies and Resources for Racial Trauma: https://wellness.jhu.edu/racial-trauma-coping-strategies-and-wellness-resource/
See what students, staff, and faculty say about JHSAP.
FREE Services at JHSAP:
Identification and assessment of personal, family, and school/work-related issues, counseling and consultation, and referrals to appropriate and accessible services and resources.
Small student groups or departmental meetings with a counselor to help process the emotional consequences of a crisis and provide resources to help everyone move forward.
Support and guidance that will enhance the trust, respect, and communication between you and your partner. Problem-solve and help create a plan for managing your reactions to difficult relationships.
Academic and professional development support on topics such as study skills, stress management, school-life balance, financial management, and adjusting to a new culture.
Preventive and educational sessions that benefit all JHSAP students, as well as support and discussion groups.
Collaborative consultations between a JHSAP counselor and the dean, faculty member, or staff member to problem-solve student issues and provide effective guidance.
443-287-7000
In case of an emergency, call 911.
- JHSAP recorded a presentation on the opioid epidemic and available resources.
