The Miami University Student Counseling Service has extended its after-hours support to Miami students through ProtoCall, a national provider of on-call mental health services. The H.O.P.E. (Help Over the Phone Everywhere) line is available 24/7 for students to call for immediate support, crisis intervention, and stabilization from a licensed mental health counselor.

“We are thrilled about this expansion of service for our students,” said Steve Large, assistant vice president for health and wellness in the division of student life. We believe that the H.O.P.E. Line is symbolic of Miami’s deep commitment to promoting and protecting students holistic wellness in innovative and accessible ways.”

In addition to after-hours consultations, students can call the H.O.P.E. Line in between appointments with student counseling service or while on the waitlist (in non-life-threatening situations). 

Limited ProtoCall services were first introduced to Miami in 2015. In that time, the number was only shared with select staff on campus as a referral-only program.

Student counseling service Director John Ward is hopeful the program will increase access mental health support to students with urgent needs when it’s not feasible or practical to come in for an appointment. “We want Miami students to have access to help when they need it and not just during our regular hours. With the expansion of the H.O.P.E. Line and the Campus Care program [drop-in consultations across campus], we think we are getting closer.”

ProtoCall shares call information with staff from student counseling service, so they can provide follow-up intervention when necessary.

The H.O.P.E. Line phone number is 855-249-5649. For an immediate and life-threatening psychological crisis, students should continue to call 911, Miami Police (513-529-2222), or present to the nearest emergency room.

This program is financially assisted by the Joseph and Laura Klunk Family Foundation.