West Virginia University issued the following message on Monday, Dec. 6, after sending out a Community Notice related to a concerning letter discovered on the Morgantown Campus:
We are grateful there was not an incident on campus today (Dec. 6) as suggested in the anonymous letter the University had received. It is our sincere hope the person who wrote the letter has received the help they need. If not, please call the Carruth Center at 304-293-4431 so we can help you.
At this time, safety experts tell WVU it may resume normal operations activities on campus.
“Not just today but every day please look out for anything out of the ordinary on our campus and with others around you,” University Police Chief Sherry St. Clair said. “If you find yourself in a potentially concerning situation, call 911. By being alert and present, you are not only keeping yourself as safe as possible but keeping our community safer, as well.”
As a precaution, additional safety measures will remain across campus for the rest of the semester including at the Mountainlair.
“We understand that for many students this is already a stressful time as the end of the semester approaches so the Carruth Center will also continue to be provided added opportunities to seek help,” Director T. Anne Hawkins said.
The CrisisTextLine is available if texting sounds easier than speaking with someone in-person or over the phone. Just text WVU to 741741 for 24/7 free, confidential help. Talkspace is available at no charge to WVU students and offers secure, confidential online therapy.
If you prefer to meet with a counselor in the local community or if you want more long-term counseling, a list of providers is available. (Please note this list is not all-inclusive, and we do not endorse specific providers.)
We urge anyone who is struggling with mental health issues to reach out for assistance.
- If you have thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
- Veterans can call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1.
- And the LGBTQ+ community can call 1-866-488-7386.
And if you know of someone who is struggling, you can help by checking in on your friends. If you’re concerned, don’t delay in helping.
More signs of distress and how to help
The West Virginia University Faculty and Staff Assistance Program is a free service offered to employees and their dependents. FSAP is a confidential resource that provides professional staff three sessions of short-term counseling to determine the best resources available to address presenting issues. For an appointment, WVU employees can call 304-293-5590.
Additional mental health resources and support are available at mentalhealth.wvu.edu.
“We know the significant mental and emotional toll that our campus has gone through over the last 24 hours, so please know we are committed to sharing important updates as we are able to,” Dean of Students Corey Farris said. “While this was an unusual circumstance, I appreciate the care and concern our campus community demonstrated for this individual and for each other.”
University Police will continue to monitor and update the campus as needed.
-WVU-
UR/12/06/21
CONTACT: April Kaull
Executive Director of Communications
University Relations
304-293-3990; akaull@mail.wvu.edu
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