Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Yes! If you are currently enrolled in classes at NC State, you may use the free SAP services. However, middle-school and high-school students cannot use SAP. They must talk to their school counselors or school health departments.

NC State contracts with New Directions counseling center of Mansfield, Ohio, to provide this service to students on campus. The SAP counselors conduct an assessment of student needs and goals and discuss options. They also make referrals if needed.

For questions regarding NC State’s free SAP, please call New Directions counseling center at 419-529-9941.

No. CCP and CNOW students are excluded. Middle-school and high-school students enrolled at NC State through the College Credit Plus (CCP) or College-NOW programs should contact their middle- or high-school counseling department or health department for mental health services.

Yes. Students who desire to utilize NC State’s free Student Assistance Program (SAP) for counseling must be an enrolled student—but not in the CCP or CNOW program (see above). Having health insurance is not required.

No. A referral is not needed. However, many students are referred to SAP from faculty, academic advisors, and other students. Let your friends and fellow students know about SAP’s free counseling services.

Yes! All services are confidential, which means staff at the Student Assistance Program (SAP) protect your identity and any information you choose to share about yourself: they do not provide that information to anyone else, not even your family. SAP provides assessment, brief counseling, and referral services for a wide range of concerns.

SAP counselors are able to provide some clinical diagnoses that would help a student receive disability accommodations. We refer students to a trained professional for an assessment if they desire accommodations related to concerns of a possible specific learning disorder such dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia, among others. Students with questions about the SAP’s abilities and limitations may call New Directions at 419-529-9941 and request to speak to Tessa Bianchi, LPCC.

If you think you may have test anxiety, the best thing to do is schedule an appointment with the SAP program to meet with one of our counselors. There are several helpful strategies we utilize to help students reduce their test anxiety. Some students may only need two (2) to four (4) appointments before they find relief from test anxiety.

As of June 2021, we will continue to provide telehealth services via Zoom. This is subject to change, so please do not hesitate to ask if this service is still available by calling 419-529-9941.

A great first step is talking to a counselor through NC State’s free Student Assistance Program (SAP) (see above).

Yes. Being in college is not easy. It can be very stressful. We understand. Students who attend NC State College often have challenging life circumstances and responsibilities—like work, family, parenting, caregiving, and military service. You might also have struggles with money, housing, transportation, childcare, health and medical conditions, and mental health needs, among others. It all adds up. It’s important to talk to someone who can help you sort things out for yourself.

Contact a counselor at NC State’s free Student Assistant Program (SAP) by calling this number: 419-529-9941.

Also, if you need immediate help, do not wait to use these services:

• Suicide Hot Line: 800-273- 8255 (TALK)
• Crisis Hot Line: 419-522-4357 (HELP)
• Crisis Text Line (Ohio): text “4hope” to 741741

The first thing you can do is be a good friend. Be present. Be kind. And listen without judgement. You can also validate their feelings, appreciate their courage, and refer them to sources of support: this approach was developed by a national student-to-student support organization called Active Minds. The approach is called the “3 V-A-R Steps: Validate, Appreciate, Refer.”

For more information about V-A-R, visit the “Personal Wellness” page or the “Resources” section of this site.

Currently, no support groups are offered on campus. However, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) offers support groups in the community. SAP counselors are aware of other support groups that may benefit a student.

In addition, NAMI does have a chapter on our campus (which is not a support group) and works with SAP counselors to identify student needs and desires. Please reach out to Associate Director Annabelle Coffman at 419-522-6264 if you are interested in joining NAMI on Campus, which is open to students who are enrolled at NC State or OSU-Mansfield.