If the situation is an emergency, call 911.

• Referrals are reviewed daily from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm (Monday-Friday), and are not monitored after hours, on weekends, or during official University holidays.

• If you have a student/friend/peer or employee/colleague that you are worried about, refer them to our office for follow up and support using the referral form linked below.

• If you feel a welfare check is needed, please contact the police directly. As you have first-hand information regarding the concern, the information you will be able to share will be helpful to the police. 

Make A Referral

When should I refer a student or employee?

• If an MSU student or employee exhibits any of the signs below, make a referral to the Care and Intervention Team:

  • Academic/Workplace Indicators:

    • Individual is regularly missing class or work; quality of work has diminished; grades or performance have gone down; engagement in class or workplace diminishes significantly; disruptive in class or during work; individual has shared (in writing or discussion) concerning self-disclosures (e.g., self-harm, suicidal ideation).

  • Emotional Indicators:

    • Sustained difficulty adjusting to campus life or academics; extreme display of emotions (sadness, nervousness,
      fearfulness, anger); expressed hopelessness; relationship distress; shared suicidal ideation or harm to others.

  • Physical Indicators:

    • Individual was recently hospitalized; is experiencing chronic health concerns (physical or mental); has
      experienced significant change in appearance or personal hygiene or noticeable signs of physical injury
      (e.g., bruising, swelling, cuts).

  • Behavioral Indicators:

    •  Threats or acts of violence to others; any behavior that is unusual or unexpected given the circumstances;
      substance misuse; changes to eating or sleeping habits.

  • Other Indicators:

    • Financial distress; shared lack of connection or community on campus; expressed difficulty meeting basic
      needs (housing or food insecurity); recent or past traumatic event; victim of crime or serious incident;
      problems at home or with family; significant emotional distress and preoccupation with world events that
      impact a student.

How do I make a referral?

• Submit online form using the "Make A Referral" link above.
• If you have any questions prior to referral, please contact the OSSA CARE Team at : MSU.Care@msu.edu 

Do I need to tell the person I am referring that I made a referral for them?

• You can submit a referral without notifying the referred individual, however, if you have a relationship with them and feel comfortable sharing that you plan to refer them, it may be helpful to do so. In this case, you can share your concerns and help the student or employee understand that you are trying to connect them to support and resources to be successful. 

What happens after I make a referral?

• You will receive a confirmation email that your referral was received and will be reviewed. In some situations, you may be contacted by a CARE Team member for additional information. CARE will perform outreach based on your referral and unless the referred individual has requested you be updated, you will likely not receive any follow-up or further information due to privacy laws and regulations.