UC Davis Mental Health Resources Students Should Know

College can be exciting and still feel heavy. That is true at UC Davis too. Between classes, housing, money, relationships, family pressure, work, and the normal stress of figuring out adulthood, students can hit moments where they need support fast.

This guide is not a replacement for professional care. It is a practical starting point for UC Davis students and Davis residents who want to know where to look, who to call, and what kinds of support exist nearby.

If it feels urgent right now

If there is immediate danger, call 911. If you are in emotional crisis, thinking about suicide, worried you might hurt yourself, or worried about someone else, call or text 988. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day and connects you with trained crisis support.

UC Davis students can also call Student Health and Counseling Services at 530-752-0871. Mental health support is available by phone after hours by following the prompts. During business hours, students can ask about same day crisis support or urgent care options.

For Yolo County crisis support, the Yolo County Mental Health Crisis and Access Line is 888-965-6647. Crisis Text Line is also available by texting HOME to 741741.

UC Davis Student Health and Counseling Services

Student Health and Counseling Services, often called SHCS, is one of the first places UC Davis students should know. Counseling Services can help with short term individual counseling, group therapy, crisis support, referrals, and mental health care navigation.

Students can typically start through Health e Messaging, by phone, or by contacting Counseling Services directly. The main counseling phone number to keep saved is 530-752-0871.

SHCS can be especially helpful if you are not sure what kind of help you need. You do not have to arrive with perfect words. You can say, “I am overwhelmed and I need to talk to someone,” or “I am worried about a friend.” That is enough to start.

Aggie Mental Health

Aggie Mental Health is UC Davis’s student mental health hub. It is meant to make resources easier to find in one place, including options for urgent help, counseling, self care, basic needs, and support for specific student communities.

This is a good page to bookmark because mental health support can be hard to search for when you are already stressed. Having one starting point can make the next step feel smaller.

Health 34 for non emergency support on campus

Health 34 is a UC Davis support team that helps with non emergency mental health and basic medical needs on campus. It can be useful for situations like panic, distress, roommate conflict, or when a student needs help figuring out what resource fits the moment.

If someone is in immediate danger, use emergency services. But for non emergency support and navigation, Health 34 is worth knowing about.

CARE for sexual violence and harassment support

The UC Davis Center for Advocacy, Resources and Education, known as CARE, supports people affected by sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. CARE can help students understand options, find support, and talk through next steps in a confidential setting.

If something happened and you are not sure whether it “counts,” you can still reach out. Support services are there to help you sort through what happened without pressure.

Yolo County and Davis community resources

Not every student wants to start on campus, and not every Davis resident is a student. Yolo County has mental health access and crisis resources that can help connect people with care. The Yolo County Mental Health Crisis and Access Line is 888-965-6647.

NAMI Yolo County can also be a helpful place for education, support, and referrals for people living with mental health conditions and for families or friends trying to help someone they care about.

For broader local referrals, 211 Yolo can help people find health and human services in the area. That can be useful when the issue is not only mental health, but also housing stress, food insecurity, transportation, or other pressure that is making life harder.

When you are helping a friend

You do not need to become someone’s therapist to be helpful. Stay calm, listen, and take what they say seriously. If they mention suicide, self harm, violence, or feeling unsafe, do not keep that alone. Call 988, contact campus crisis support, or get emergency help if there is immediate danger.

Helpful words can be simple: “I am really glad you told me.” “Do you want me to sit with you while you call?” “Can we text someone together?” “I do not want you to be alone with this.”

Small supports that still count

Not every hard week is a crisis, but it still matters. A walk through the Arboretum, a real meal, a clean room, sunlight, a call home, office hours, a bike ride, or one honest conversation can help you get through the next hour. Small supports do not replace care, but they can make care easier to reach.

If you are living in an apartment, pay attention to isolation. It is easy to disappear into your room when things feel bad. Try to keep one routine that gets you outside or around people, even briefly.

National resources to keep saved

These are the broader resources we include on SkipTheDorm’s student resources page, and they are useful no matter what campus you are on.

• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 for free, confidential crisis support 24 hours a day.
• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.
• SAMHSA National Helpline: Treatment referral and mental health or substance use support.
• The Trevor Project: Crisis support for LGBTQ young people.
• Active Minds: College student mental health education and advocacy resources.

You can also visit SkipTheDorm’s Student Resources page for a quick national support list: skipthedorm.com/resources.

Save this page before you need it. Send it to a roommate, a friend, or anyone who might want a Davis specific place to start.