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Lehigh Carbon Community College

Contact Information

Our main office is located on the Schnecksville campus in the Student Services Center, Room 126.  We also have Counselor appointments available at our Donley and Morgan sites.  Please call 610 799-1895 or e-mail counselingcenter@mikeshiner.com with questions or to schedule an appointment.

Crisis Information

In Emergency situations, call:

  • Lehigh County 610-782-3127
  • Northampton County 610-252-9060
  • Carbon County 570-992-0879
  • Schuylkill County 877-993-4357
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK
  • Dial 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Call, text, chat for free and confidential. Help is available in English and Spanish, 24 hours a day

Description of Counseling at LCCC

The life of a college student is a busy one—balancing obligations to work, family, friends, and school. It can feel overwhelming at times even just knowing where to start. At LCCC Counseling Services, we work with students to navigate the challenges of being a busy student in an even busier world. Our counselors have the training and experience to walk with you through some of the challenging transitions that occur during college. We’re here to help!  Faculty and staff are welcome to direct students to us or bring them to our office.  Our main office is located on the Schnecksville campus in the Student Services Center, Room 126.

Appointments and Fees

Services are free of charge for all students. Appointments are usually available on a first-come, first-served basis, but emergency assistance is often available the same day. The first appointment will involve completion of confidential forms and a meeting with the counselor to discuss the reasons for seeking assistance and an attempt to clarify goals and possible ways to achieve these goals. Counseling is primarily short term (6-8 sessions). If longer treatment is necessary, the counselor will help with referral to a provider off-campus.

Confidentiality and Privacy

All contacts and communications with Counseling Services are confidential. Counseling records and notes are not a part of your academic record. We follow laws and ethical guidelines that govern professional counseling. In keeping with these guidelines, the only situations in which a counselor would make an exception to confidentiality is if you were at risk of harming yourself or another person, or in the case of abuse of a minor or older adult (child/elder abuse).

Suicide Awareness and Prevention Plan

At Lehigh Carbon Community College, we strive to support students to achieve their goals through a culture of care while we recognize that student mental health plays a vital role in their academic success. The Counseling Center has trained counselors available to meet with students to help them work through many difficulties. In order to ensure that all students remain safe, we are here to help students who may be experiencing thoughts of self-harm, suicidal ideations, or considering death by suicide. We take these reports very seriously and want to ensure that all students, faculty, and staff are aware of the risk factors, warning signs, and resources available in the event that anyone is experiencing a mental health crisis. Counseling services are available in person or remotely through Zoom. Appointments are recommended for these services. All counseling services are at no cost to our students. For more information, please visit our website or call 610-799-1895.

Suicide Awareness and Prevention Resources

College Resources

Counseling Center 

610-799-1895 (M-F 8 am-5 pm) or email us at counselingcenter@mikeshiner.com

Public Safety 

Main Campus 610-799-1169 (M-Thu 7am-10pm, Fri 7am-5pm, Sat 7am-6pm)

Donley Center 610-799-1264

Morgan Center 570-668-6880

Or click here for Additional Public Safety information and tips.

StART

StART is utilized by faculty and staff for online reporting of perceived violations of the Code of Student Conduct (Behavior Concern) or possible emotional and mental health concerns. You will generally receive a response within 24 hours from submitting the form. Access to the online form.

State and National Suicide Prevention Resources and Hotlines 

State Level

  • Lehigh County Crisis Intervention 24 hour hotline: 610-782-3127 
  • Northampton County 24 Hour Hotline: 610-252-9060
  • Northampton County Suicide Prevention Task Force: 610-829-4788
  • Carbon/Monroe/Pike County 24 Hour Hotline: 570-992-0879/610-377-0773 or 800-338-6467
  • Schuylkill County: 877-993-4357
  • Carbon-Monroe-Pike County Warmline 24/7: 866-654-8114
  • Lehigh County Warm Line: 610-820-8451 (M-F 6-2 a.m. /Sa & Su 6-10 a.m. , 2 p.m. -2 a.m.)
  • Lehigh County Peer Run 24/7 Warmline: 833-899-1331
  • Northampton County Peer Line 24 hours: 855-727-3377

National Level

Local Resources and Support Group Information

  • To find a therapist in your area:

Lehigh County Center of Recovery: 610-814-7750 or 484-895-1486

Recovery Revolution: 610-599-7700

Alcoholics Anonymous: 610-882-0558 24 hour hotline or click here to find a meeting in your area

Narcotics Anonymous: meetings in person or online. To find a meeting go to na.org and choose your location

Carbon/Monroe/Pike County Drug and Alcohol Commission: 610-377-5177

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: 484-330-0912

Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group: click here to find a group near you

Haven House Peer to Peer Support Group: 610-433-6181 ext. 142

Center for Humanistic Change: 610-443-1595

Grief Support groups: Find a Grief Support Group

Crime Victims Council of the Lehigh Valley: 610-437-6610/6611 or egrigonis@cvclv.org

Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance: 800-826-3632

Turning Point of Lehigh Valley: 610 437-3369 

Gamblers Anonymous: 855-222-5542

Crisis Intervention Resources

  • 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: dial 988 from any phone, available 24/7 (for Veterans Support, press 1 once connected or text: 838225)
  • Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741 at any time, for any type of crisis. If you’re a person of color who is experiencing a crisis, you can also text STEVE to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor of color.
  • Lifeline Crisis Chat: crisichat.org/chat or 800-273-8255 available 24/7

In an emergency, please go to the local ER or call 911

The following hospitals have behavioral health services available:

  • LVHN Behavioral Health: LVH Cedar Crest: 610-402-5900 or mylvhn.org 1200 S Cedar Crest Blvd Allentown, PA 18103
  • LVHN Behavioral health: LVH Muhlenberg: 610-297-7500 or 484-884-2425 2545 Schoenersville Rd Bethlehem, PA 18017
  • St. Luke’s Sacred Heart Behavioral Health: 484-602-2733 or mystlukes@sluhn.org 412 Chew St Allentown, PA 18102

Employee Resources

Employees of the College affected by mental health concerns have access to a comprehensive Employee Assistance Program available through Preferred EAP. This partnership can assist you in the management of work, personal, or family issues. Preferred EAP offers counseling, coaching, and consultation to employees and their families. The help you receive from Preferred EAP is completely confidential and at no cost to you. Preferred EAP can be reached by phone at 610-433-8550 or 800-327-8878. For more detailed information you can visit their website.

Recognizing the Warning Signs

Signs that a person is at risk of suicide may be a change of behaviors, especially if the behaviors are related to a recent painful event, loss or change. Below are some of the signs, behaviors, and moods to pay attention to, as well as ways you can provide support. Additionally, you can participate in Take 5 to Save Lives which was created by the National Council for Suicide Prevention for World Suicide Prevention Day. This allows individuals to take 5 minutes out of their day to complete five action items: Learn the Warning Signs, Do Your Part, Practice Self-care, Reach Out, and Spread the Word. You can participate by going to www.take5tosavelives.org/take-5-steps.

Warning signs include if a person talks about:

  • Killing themselves
  • Feeling hopeless
  • Having no reason to live
  • Being a burden to others
  • Feeling trapped
  • Unbearable pain
  • Loss of interest
  • Significant increase/decrease in depression or anxiety
  • Irritability and/or agitation

Behaviors that may signal risk, especially if related to a painful event, loss or change, include:

  • Previous attempts
  • Putting personal affairs in order
  • Sudden interest or disinterest in religion
  • Acquiring gun or stockpiling pills
  • Increased use of alcohol or drugs or relapse
  • Looking for a way to end their lives, such as searching online for methods
  • Withdrawing from activities
  • Isolating from family and friends
  • Sleeping too much or too little
  • Visiting or calling people to say goodbye
  • Giving away prized possessions
  • Aggression or sudden mood boost
  • Fatigue

Situational events that may signal risk, especially if related to a painful event, loss or change, include:

  • Getting fired
  • An unwanted move
  • Death of a loved one, especially by suicide
  • Recent diagnosis of serious or terminal illness
  • Sudden loss of freedom/fear of punishment
  • Loss of financial security
  • Loss of a major relationship, therapist, counselor, or teacher
  • Fear of becoming a burden to others
  • People who are considering suicide often display one or more of the following moods:
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Loss of interest
  • Irritability
  • Humiliation/shame
  • Agitation/anger
  • Relief/sudden improvement

If you notice any of these signs or other changes in a peer or loved one: 

  1. Reach out to them and ask how they are doing. Plan a conversation with them when you have plenty of time and privacy. 
  2. Share the behaviors and changes that have concerned you.
  3. Allow the person to share their concerns and thoughts and offer to help them find the appropriate resources. 
  4. Directly ask if the person is thinking about suicide. Asking about suicide does not increase a person’s risk for suicide, to the contrary, it can be a relief that they can share these thoughts with someone else. 
  5. Offer hope when they need it most. Your offer of unconditional support and encouragement can be crucial to a person thinking about suicide. 
  6. Let the person know that help is available and reassure them that their feelings are temporary and that you value their presence in your life. 
  7. If you feel the person is an immediate danger to themselves or someone else call 911 or if on campus call Campus Security at 610-799-1169.
  8. Not sure, complete and submit a START report for an Emotional/Mental Health Concern and staff from Community Standards will follow up with you to discuss what is going on. 

Communication Plans

LCCC offers mental health webinars and programs for faculty, staff, and students to increase awareness and reduce the stigma associated with mental health. All students are informed of the mental health resources provided by the college through new student orientation and mylccc portal messaging. These services and resources are  also communicated to students numerous times each year through the use of email, student newsletters, faculty and staff newsletters, web slides, workshops, classroom presentations, service and activities fairs. 

Post-Intervention Plans

In the event of an emergency, counseling and support services will be made available to all impacted students and employees. The College will follow its established guidelines as per the Policies & Regulations Manual and Navigate for communicating with the LCCC community and the Critical Incident Team will be activated.