How to Get Help
MIT Medical offers a broad range of mental health and emotional health services. All visits and conversations with MIT Medical staff, whether by telephone or in person, are confidential.
Consultations
Our health educators are behavior-change specialists who are available to talk with you either in person or by phone about nutrition, fitness, stress management, sleep, help quitting smoking, substance use and abuse, your interpersonal relationships—or whatever else is on your mind. Free and confidential, our health educators are a great resource for people who are looking for sound advice, help with behavior modification, and an objective, supportive listener. To make an appointment, call 617-253-1316 or stop by the Center for Health Promotion & Wellness in E23-205 (located on the second floor of MIT Medical).
Counseling
Our mental health clinicians listen closely to your problems, help you understand their causes, and work with you to develop strategies to manage stress and improve functioning. To make an appointment, call 617-253-2916 to schedule a 15-minute, same-day “triage conversation” with a mental clinician. Triage conversations are usually done by phone, but can also take place at MIT Medical’s Mental Health Service on the third floor of MIT Medical (E23). During the conversation, the clinician will gather the necessary information to match you with a clinician suited to your particular needs. You’ll then be scheduled for your first regular appointment—in most cases within a week.
For urgent concerns, the Mental Health Service has walk-in hours every weekday afternoon from 2 to 4 p.m. During walk-in hours, you can see a clinician without an appointment, although you may have to wait. Patients in emergency situations will be seen immediately. Appropriate follow-up appointments will be arranged during this walk-in visit.
For emergencies during evenings, weekends, or any other time the Mental Health Service is not open, call 617-253-2619 to reach the mental health clinician on call.
Group Counseling
MIT Medical's Mental Health Service offers group counseling on a variety of issues for members of the MIT community. Call 617-253-2916 to schedule an interview with the leader of the group you’d like to join. This interview will help ensure that the group’s goals are consistent with your personal needs. We can also refer you to other campus support groups or recommend resources in the Boston area.
Personal Assistance Program for Employees
MIT employees who are facing issues that may affect work and family life, including stress, alcohol or drug abuse, and relationship problems, may benefit from access to MIT's Personal Assistance Program. The program provides free, confidential, specialized counseling and referral services for all staff, faculty, and employees of MIT, including Lincoln and Draper Laboratories and the Whitehead Institute. For details, visit the Personal Assistance Program web page, download the Personal Assistance Program brochure (PDF), or call 617-253-4911.
Helping a Friend or Loved One
- Parents of MIT students can read What your student needs to know about accessing care at MIT Medical for tips on helping your son or daughter adjust to life at MIT.
- Friends of MIT students can help a friend in distress by expressing concern and encouraging professional support. Learn how to identify and respond appropriately to psychological stress by reading our pamphlet, How to Help Someone in Distress (PDF).
- MIT Faculty can help by identifying those students who need professional support and encouraging them to get help. We recommend reading our pamphlet, How to Help Students in Distress (PDF).
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