Life Management Resources

Resources to Assist You, Our Students

As a student in Pitt Public Health you are also a member of the University community. As a result we want to make sure that you have easy access to all services that might be helpful to you while you are on campus. Several resources are listed for you below.

However, if you do not find what you need here, or would like to speak to someone instead please contact

  • your advisor or other mentor,
  • your departmental staff liaison,
  • your program director,
  • your department chair, or
  • Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Ada Youk 

In an Emergency

On Campus: Call Pitt Police
(412-624-2121 or 4-2121 from a campus phone)
What to do in an emergency, Web resources

Off Campus: Call city police (911)

Report a Sexual Assault

Pitt Counseling Center hotline
412-648-7856

Contact Student Affairs

Need to reach us? E-mail us at stuaff@pitt.edu

Or browse our staff for someone specific. 

Do You Know of Other Resources? 

Do you know of other helpful resources for your fellow students? Submit them to Mike Dolinger, director of student services. 

Hotlines

(in alphabetical order)

Pitt Counseling Center Crisis Intervention Services
Operated by the University of Pittsburgh Counseling Services
412-648-7930 | Monday–Friday 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
412-624-2121 | After hours or on weekends. Note: this does get you to the campus police who can forward your call.

The Trevor Lifeline (Suicide Prevention for LGBTQ youth)
866-4-U-TREVO (1-866-488-7386)
A national 24-hour, toll free confidential suicide hotline for gay and questioning youth.

National Grad Crisis Line 
877-GRAD-HLP (1-877-472-3457)
A national 24-hour, toll free confidential telephone counseling, crisis intervention, suicide prevention, and information and referral services provided by specially-trained call-takers.

RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network)
800-656-HOPE (1-800-656-4673)
Help 24/7 for Sexual Assault Victims and Their Friends and Families that is free and confidential.

Re:Solve Crisis Network (Crisis Intervention)
888-7-YOU-CAN (1-888-796-8226)
Round-the-clock, mental health crisis intervention and stabilization services for residents of Allegheny County in Pennsylvania

National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233)
A 24-hour confidential service for survivors, victims and those effected by domestic violence, intimate partner violence and relationship abuse.

University of Pittsburgh Title IX Office
412-648-7860

University Resources

(in alphabetical order)

Assist America
Graduate students (and their families) enrolled in a UPMC health insurance plan are automatically eligible for Assist America services, including emergency medical services, hospital admissions, referrals to qualified physicians, and more.

Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Info and Locations on Campus
In Public Health there are AEDs on the even floors of Public Health plus outside of A115, and odd floors of Public Health.

Campus Recreational and Intramural Sports
Provides fitness and wellness services to graduate and professional students. Whether you are an experienced fitness enthusiast or a recreational novice, you can find a type of recreation to fulfill your fitness needs.

Care and Resource Support (CARS) Team
The University of Pittsburgh is dedicated to providing a safe and healthy living and learning environment for students. The Care and Resources Support (CARS) Team accepts referrals, evaluates, and responds to student behavior identified as reasonably causing concern for students’ health, welfare and safety.

Center for Health Equity
Pitt Public Health's Center for Health Equity aims to understand and reduce health disparities in underserved populations, particularly those in Western Pennsylvania.

Center for Mindfulness and Consciousness Studies
The Center for Mindfulness and Consciousness Studies also provides graduate students with resources and programming on mindfulness.

Clinical Psychology Center
The Clinical Psychology Center is staffed by doctoral students in clinical psychology supervised by licensed faculty and clinicians. This clinic does not accept insurance but has a very reasonable sliding scale for payments.

Counseling Center
The Counseling Center offers a variety of mental health services, including assessment, counseling, psychotherapy, psychiatric services, and abuse and assault services.

Counseling Center – Concern for fellow student 
When dealing with an angry or upset student, you may contact the Counseling Center by telephone for assistance in dealing with the situation.

Disability Resources and Services
Students with documented disabilities may work with a disability specialist to maximize academic performance.

Environmental Health and Safety
This department can answer questions about safety and fire safety in your off campus housing. EH&S also offers safety training on multiple topics. If you have a concern or question pertaining to safety on or around campus, email safety@ehs.pitt.edu or call 412-624-9505.

ETD Assistance
A support team provided by the library system can assist you with submitting your electronic theses and dissertations.

Graduate Student Resources
The University of Pittsburgh provides a supportive community for its graduate and professional students. If you have questions specific to your program, ask your program administrator. If you have questions about University-wide resources or you are unsure who to contact, email graduate@pitt.edu.

Gym and Sports Facilities
Graduate students can use the four campus fitness centers—at the Baierl Student Recreation Center, William Pitt Union, Bellefield Hall, and Trees Hall—to exercise and improve their overall well-being. Students can participate in group exercise, personal training, and wellness consultations and rent equipment and lockers for the semester.

Health Insurance
Pitt’s student medical plan includes low copayments, no annual deductible for in-network services, inpatient hospital visits, treatment for mental illness and substance abuse, no-cost prenatal and postnatal maternity services, and gender reassignment services.

Healthy U (health and wellness at Pitt)
Healthy U is a Pitt program that encourages a healthy lifestyle outside of the classroom, focusing on medical, physical, social, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, occupational, financial, and environmental wellness.

International SOS
Since 2016, Pitt has provided comprehensive health and security coverage to enrolled Pitt graduate students and professional students traveling abroad in pursuit of their scholarship and professional development.

Lactation Rooms for New and Nursing Mothers
There is a dedicated room in Public Health that contains a table, chairs, storage cabinet, refrigerator, and a hot water heater. Specifics on the room in our school are available at the facilities page.

Legal Assistance (free through GPSG)
The Graduate and Professional Student Government Association (GPSG) provides 30 minute free legal appointments during the academic year on Fridays.

LGBTQIA+ Resources
An online resource database for current and prospective students who identify as members or allies of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community, this site aims to improve visibility and support for LGBTQIA students and employees by promoting and publicizing available resources and services at the University.

Off-Campus Living Tenants’ Rights
Understand your legal rights as a tenant to help you avoid, meet, and overcome rental problems.

Office of Diversity and Inclusion
The ODI coordinates and facilitates the development and implementation of equal opportunity, nondiscrimination, and diversity policies, procedures, and guidelines for the University.

Office of Health Sciences Diversity
The Office of Health Sciences Diversity exists to increase the number of well-trained professionals who reflect different cultures, ethnicities, socio-economic backgrounds, abilities, genders, religious affiliations, gender identities and expressions, and sexual orientations in the health professions schools.

Office of International Services
The OIS serves international students and the broader University community as a centralized resource for visa-related matters and international education.

Parental Accommodation Guidelines
Helping students who are new parents through childbirth or adoption to find academic/personal life balance.

Pitt Active Minds (mental health advocacy group)
Active Minds is the leading nonprofit organization that consists of student-run mental health awareness chapters that provide education and advocacy on campuses nationwide and empower students to speak openly about mental health in order to educate others and encourage help-seeking.

Pitt and Community Assistance Resources
The University Library System has compiled a resource list for students seeking housing, health, and/or food assistance at the University of Pittsburgh.

Pitt Counseling Center Crisis Intervention Services
The Counseling Center provides crisis services for students in need of immediate mental health intervention.

Pitt Pantry (food insecurity)
In partnership with the Bellefield Presbyterian Church, Pitt students experiencing food insecurity can visit the Pitt Pantry to select items of need.

Provost's Advisory Committee on Women's Concerns
The PACWC seeks to ensure a productive environment for faculty, students, and staff, particularly in areas related to women’s concerns. It focuses on general issues of campus climate and programs as the affect women throughout the University.

Rave Guardian App
The Rave Guardian app is an optional companion safety feature of the upgraded Emergency Notification Service that leverages mobile technology to provide new options for contacting the Pitt Police. It’s available through the Pitt App Store, the Apple App Store, or Google Play.

SafeRider Program
SafeRider provides safe transportation during the evening and early morning hours when special, nonemergency needs arise for Pitt or Chatham students, faculty, and staff. Call 412-648-CALL (2255) for your safe ride. Program their number into your phone so it’s handy when you need it.

SHARE (Sexual Harassment and Assault Response Education)
Pitt’s Office of Sexual Harassment and Assault Response and Education provides counseling to victims of sexual assault, assists victims in obtaining medical care, and offers support in all aspects of the recovery process. The office also coordinates the University’s educational programs and active approach to preventing sexual assault on campus.

Single-User Restroom Locations on Campus
This site provides a map that identifies single-occupancy restrooms across campus. Faculty, staff, and students are welcome to use these or any restroom that corresponds to their gender identity.

Stress Free Zone
The Stress Free Zone is a space where students can learn and regularly practice evidence-based, mind/body stress reduction skills. These skills are primarily taught through mindfulness meditation, a form of attention training which involves an intentional, non-judgmental observation of the present moment. Open to all students.

Student Health Service
The Mission of the Student Health Service is to provide high quality prevention, health education, and primary health care and pharmacy services to enhance student living and learning.

Talk About It (campaign to increase depression awareness)
This is a mental health campaign developed to increase awareness of depression experienced by university students. Its mission is to educate students about the illness of depression, to reduce the stigma associated with depression, and to encourage students to seek support and professional help.

Therapy Dog Tuesdays at Pitt
On Tuesday nights at 7 p.m. volunteers from the Humane Society in association with the College Canine Program bring their dogs to visit students and members of the public who are on Pitt’s campus for an hour of fun and relaxation.

Transgender Campus Resources
Information and resources on issues, including name changing, restroom facilities, healthcare, and discrimination/harassment.

University Child Development Center
Offers part-time and full-time spaces to the children of University affiliates, including students, staff, and faculty. Email ucdc@hr.pitt.edu or call 412-383-2100 to check availability or place your child on the waiting list.

University Pharmacy
We have a wide variety of prescription medications as well as many over-the-counter products. Our licensed pharmacists will be happy to discuss any questions you have regarding your medications. We offer quick, professional and personal service in a convenient setting.

University Police
The primary mission of the University of Pittsburgh Police Department is for the protection and welfare of all University students, staff, faculty, visitors, and guests to the University as well as the safeguarding of all property.

You and Your Child Parenting Guides
Produced by the University of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development, this series of plain-language, easy-to-use parenting guides summarizes the best practices for raising healthy children, including foster children. Each guide is based on current parenting literature and has been reviewed by a panel of child development experts and practitioners. Additional information for families can be found at childdevelopment.pitt.edu/families.

Other Resources

(in alphabetical order)

Global Pittsburgh (international student networking)
Global Pittsburgh brings together globally-minded people in the Pittsburgh region through membership activities and hosting programs, helps universities and English Language programs attract more international students, and coordinates visits for international delegations through the U.S. Department of State.

Pittsburgh 311 Response Center (non-emergencies)
Submit any non-emergency City of Pittsburgh concerns or questions through this online form and a 311 representative will assist you.

PERSAD Center (regional LGBTQIA+ organization)
Through a variety of outreach, prevention, counseling, advocacy, and training services, the PERSAD Center works to resolve problems faced by the LGBTQIA+ and HIV/AIDS communities.

Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh
Women’s Center & Shelter provides high quality, confidential and free programs offered in an environment where cultural competency, justice, autonomy, restoration and safety are priorities. Current programs include: 24-Hour Emergency Shelter, 24-Hour Hotline, Children’s Program, Empowerment Center (Support Groups), Legal Advocacy, Medical Advocacy, Civil Law Project, Education and MEN/S Group.