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Miami University offers MUHOPE crisis text line

Free mental health support is available to all students

by Margo Rutledge Kissell • Published •
Campus Life

Miami University offers MUHOPE crisis text line

Free mental health support is available to all students

by Margo Rutledge Kissell • Published •

Miami University students now have access to a crisis text line thanks to funding from the Ohio Department of Higher Education.

John Ward, director of Miami’s Student Counseling Service, said the university’s partnership with the Crisis Text Line has been finalized, and the service is ready to be used. It is available to all students.

“Students don't need support only from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays to Fridays. The HOPE Line is one option for 24/7 mental health support,” said Jayne Brownell, senior vice president for the Division of Student Life. “Now MUHOPE gives students another convenient option for instant care to get students through until they can have a more in-depth conversation with someone in the Student Counseling Service.”

Miami students can text MUHOPE to 741741 for free 24/7 mental health support. MUHOPE is appropriate for any level of crisis, Ward noted.

“Crisis doesn’t just mean thinking about self-harm and can include any painful emotion or feeling overwhelmed,” he said. “We encourage students to reach out anytime they need support.”

Ward is excited about the addition of this service because it provides an easily accessible option for students to access care and support.

“Not all students are comfortable chatting face to face, via video conferencing, or on the telephone when they need help,” Ward said. “MUHOPE provides an additional avenue for care in a format that most students are familiar with.”

Last year, Miami was awarded a $979,650 grant from the Ohio Department of Higher Education designed to bolster mental health services. The funding has introduced or greatly expanded a variety of campus efforts specific to student mental health, including the crisis text line, new programming, and establishing dedicated wellness/relaxation spaces on the Oxford and Hamilton campuses.

"The grant from the Ohio Department of Higher Education is both timely and generous, and it beautifully reflects the state's commitment to collegiate mental health,” said Steve Large, assistant vice president for health and wellness in the Division of Student Life. “It also provides us with the opportunity to meaningfully work together in advancing campus-wide initiatives that prioritize the well-being of our students."

Established in 1809, Miami University is located in Oxford, Ohio, with regional campuses in Hamilton and Middletown, a learning center in West Chester, and a European study center in Luxembourg. Interested in learning more about mental health services at Miami? Check out the new Mental Health and Well-being website available for students, faculty, and staff.

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