Family Guide to Supporting Your Student’s Mental Health
Supporting your student’s mental health from a distance can feel challenging. Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS) is here to help by supporting your student directly and offering guidance so you know what to expect and where to turn.
If you’re worried about your student right now:Ìý
- Call CAPS 24/7 crisis support at 303-492-2277Ìý
- For immediate danger, call 911 (off campus) or 303-492-6666 (CU Police)Ìý
About CAPS
CAPS is CU Boulder’s counseling center for undergraduate and graduate students. We provide mental health support, connect students to resources and help them find care that fits their needs—on or off campus.Ìý
We focus on:Ìý
- Early support and access to careÌý
- Short-term and skill-building servicesÌý
- Connecting students to longer-term or specialized care when neededÌý
Getting Started with CAPS
A screening appointment is the first step. This is a brief meeting with your student and a CAPS provider to understand concerns and create an individualized plan for care.ÌýÌýÌý
Screening options:Ìý
- Same-day, in-person drop-in: Mon–Fri, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.Ìý
- Scheduled virtual appointment:
Important: Âé¶¹ÒùÔº must schedule their own CAPS appointments. Parents and family members cannot schedule on a student’s behalf.Ìý
After the screening, CAPS will recommend the most appropriate care—this may include CAPS services, groups/workshops or referrals to community providers.Ìý
Family Support
Families can play an important role by encouraging support, staying connected and helping students take manageable next steps. Whether your student is ready to seek care now or needs more time, a supportive conversation can help them feel less alone and more open to getting help when they’re ready.Ìý
Understanding ConfidentialityÌý
College students’ health information is protected by privacy laws. CAPS cannot:Ìý
- Confirm whether a student is receiving servicesÌý
- Share details about their careÌý
Âé¶¹ÒùÔº can choose to share information by completing a Release of Information through mycuhealth.colorado.edu.Ìý
How CAPS can still help familiesÌý
Even without permission, CAPS can:Ìý
- Explain services and processesÌý
- Share general guidanceÌý
- Offer suggestions based on your concernsÌý
- Provide campus and community resourcesÌý
Call our family support line at 303-492-2277.Ìý
Navigating Concerns About Your Student
If you’re worried about your student, CAPS can help you understand your options and where to turn for support. While we don’t contact students unless they request services, families can connect with Student Outreach, Advocacy & Support for outreach and care coordination support or call CAPS at 303-492-2277 to talk through concerns and available resources.Ìý
Urgent and Crisis Situations
CAPS recommends same-day urgent/crisis support if a student is:Ìý
- Having thoughts of suicideÌý
- Unsure how to stay safeÌý
- Having thoughts of harming othersÌý
- Hearing/seeing things others do notÌý
- Experiencing severe mood swingsÌý
- Unable to eat, sleep or care for themselves due to mental healthÌý
- Recently discharged from psychiatric hospitalizationÌý
- Experiencing severe substance-related safety concerns
Urgent Support OptionsÌý
- Same-day CAPS crisis services: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.Ìý
- CAPS 24/7 phone support: 303-492-2277Ìý
Additional Crisis ResourcesÌý
- National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988Ìý
- CU Police: 303-492-6666Ìý
- Emergency services: 911Ìý
Community LocationsÌý
- (24/7 in Louisville)Ìý
- (Boulder)Ìý
New to CU? Support for Incoming Âé¶¹ÒùÔº
Starting college is a big transition, and it’s normal for students and families to have questions about mental health support. CAPS can be a partner to families as they support their student’s well-being and navigate mental health resources at CU Boulder.Ìý
Most students can access CAPS through the mental health fee included in tuition, which makes it a good starting point for support. For students who may need weekly or longer-term therapy, off-campus care is often the best fit and CAPS can help them explore those options.Ìý
Âé¶¹ÒùÔº can look for community providers through or email CAPScasemanagement@colorado.edu for additional referrals. BetterMynd also offers free virtual therapy sessions for CU students in all 50 states, giving students another flexible option for care.Ìý
If your student is already receiving care, encourage them to talk with their current provider about:Ìý
- Continuing care remotely while at CUÌý
- Medication refillsÌý
- Local provider optionsÌý
- Expected support needsÌý
CAPS can help connect students to local providers if needed through and they can email CAPScasemanagement@colorado.edu for additional referrals.Ìý
Medication and ADHD Considerations
Âé¶¹ÒùÔº currently taking psychiatric medication should:Ìý
- Contact their home prescriber about continuing careÌý
- Consider a CAPS screening if adjustments or monitoring are neededÌý
Âé¶¹ÒùÔº can transfer prescriptions to CU Boulder’s on‑campus Apothecary Pharmacy for easy refills and pickup at Wardenburg Health Center.ÌýÌýÌý
Many students find it easier to manage ADHD medication off campus with a local provider.Ìý
Âé¶¹ÒùÔº seeking care through CAPS should:Ìý
- Complete a screening appointmentÌý
- Provide history and prior diagnosis documentation if availableÌý
Learn more about ADHD support at CAPS.Ìý
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)Ìý
Have a question about CAPS? Check out these frequently asked questions from families and parents.Ìý