Mental Health

About This Page

This page provides mental health resources for LGBTQIA+ students and other marginalized communities. It includes counseling services, crisis support, peer support, and community-based care, while also recognizing that many students face barriers in accessing inclusive, affordable, and affirming mental health support.

This page is meant to make mental health support easier to locate and access.

Crisis Support (Immediate Help):

  1. Crisis Text Line: Text CUNY to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor 24/7
  2. NYC Well: Dial or text 988 to connect to a counselor via phone, text, or chat and get access to mental health and substance use services. They offer referrals and transfers to other services.
  3. Teen Link: Dial or text 866-833-6546
  4. SAMHSA Helpline: Dial or text 800-662-HELP (4357)
  5. NYC Mental Health Hotline: 988

CUNY Campus Counseling Services:

Before being referred off campus, students are encouraged to first meet with their available on campus counseling services.

  1. Schedule an appointment with the counseling center of the school you are in enrolled in. 
  2. Meeting with a counselor to discuss your needs allows them to evaluate the kind of support needed and offer appropriate off-campus recommendations.
  • Available at most CUNY campuses
  • Location: Campus counseling centers and virtual appointments
  • Hours: Typically Monday–Friday during campus business hours
  • Cost: Free for enrolled students
  • Support includes:
    • Mental health counseling
    • Crisis intervention
    • Wellness workshops
    • LGBTQIA+ affirming support referrals

Many students, especially LGBTQIA+, disabled, immigrant, and food-insecure students, still face barriers accessing these services due to limited awareness, accessibility gaps, language barriers, and inconsistent support between campuses.

Below is a list of counseling centers throughout CUNY campuses. Hours may vary during summer, finals, and holidays, so students should contact centers directly for updated schedules.

Baruch College Counseling Center

Baruch College Counseling Center

Brooklyn College Counseling Center

Brooklyn College Counseling Center

BMCC Counseling Center

BMCC Counseling Center

  • Location: 199 Chambers Street, New York, NY 10007
  • Hours: Monday–Friday, typically 9 AM–5 PM
  • Phone: (212) 220-8140
  • Email: counseling@bmcc.cuny.edu
City College Counseling

City College of New York Counseling Center

  • Location: NAC Building, Room 1/203, 160 Convent Ave, New York, NY 10031
  • Hours: Monday–Friday, typically 9 AM–5 PM
  • Phone: (212) 650-8222
  • Email: counseling@ccny.cuny.edu
CUNY Graduate Center Counseling Center

CUNY Graduate Center Counseling Center

  • Location: 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016
  • Hours: Monday–Friday, typically 9 AM–5 PM
  • Phone: (212) 817-7020
  • Email: wellness@gc.cuny.edu
College of Staten Island Counseling Center

College of Staten Island Counseling Center

  • Location: Building 1A, Room 109, Staten Island, NY 10314
  • Hours: Monday–Friday, typically 9 AM–5 PM
  • Phone: (718) 982-2391
  • Email: counseling@csi.cuny.edu
Hunter College Counseling Center

Hunter College Counseling Center

  • Location: 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10065
  • Hours: Monday–Friday, typically 9 AM–5 PM
  • Phone: (212) 772-4931
  • Email: counseling@hunter.cuny.edu
John Jay College of Criminal Justice Counseling Center

John Jay College of Criminal Justice Counseling Center

  • Location: 524 W 59th Street, New York, NY 10019
  • Hours: Monday–Friday, typically 9 AM–5 PM
  • Phone: (212) 237-8111
  • Email: counseling@jjay.cuny.edu
Lehman College Counseling Center

Lehman College Counseling Center

LaGuardia Community College Counseling Center

LaGuardia Community College Counseling Center

  • Location: 31-10 Thomson Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101
  • Hours: Monday–Friday, typically 9 AM–5 PM
  • Phone: (718) 482-5471
  • Email: counseling@lagcc.cuny.edu
Kingsborough Community College Counseling Center

Kingsborough Community College Counseling Center

  • Location: U Building, Room U-201, Brooklyn, NY 11235
  • Hours: Monday–Friday, typically 9 AM–5 PM
  • Phone: (718) 368-5975
  • Email: counseling.center@kbcc.cuny.edu
Hostos Community College Counseling Center

Hostos Community College Counseling Center

  • Location: 500 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10451
  • Hours: Monday–Friday, typically 9 AM–5 PM
  • Phone: (718) 518-4351
  • Email: counseling@hostos.cuny.edu
Macaulay Honors College Counseling Center

Macaulay Honors College Counseling Center

  • Location: 35 W. 67th Street, New York, NY 10023
  • Hours: Monday–Friday, approximately 9 AM–5 PM
  • Phone: (212) 729-2900
  • Email: advising@mhc.cuny.edu
Medgar Evers College Counseling Center

Medgar Evers College Counseling Center

  • Location: 1650 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11225
  • Hours: Monday–Friday, typically 9 AM–5 PM
  • Phone: (718) 270-4900
  • Email: counseling@mec.cuny.edu
New York City of Technology Counseling Center

New York City College of Technology

  • Location: 300 Jay Street, Namm Hall 108, Brooklyn, NY 11201
  • Hours: Monday–Friday, approximately 9 AM–5 PM
  • Phone: (718) 260-5030
  • Email: counseling@citytech.cuny.edu
Queensborough Community College Counseling Center

Queensborough Community College Counseling Center

  • Location: 222-05 56th Avenue, Bayside, NY 11364
  • Hours: Monday–Friday, approximately 9 AM–5 PM
  • Phone: (718) 631-6370
  • Email: counseling@qcc.cuny.edu
Queens College Counseling Center

Queens College Counseling Center

  • Location: Frese Hall, Room 111, Queens, NY 11367
  • Hours: Monday–Friday, typically 9 AM–5 PM
  • Phone: (718) 997-5420
  • Email: counselingservices@qc.cuny.edu
York College Counseling Center

York College Counseling Center

  • Location: 94-20 Guy R. Brewer Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11451
  • Hours: Monday–Friday, approximately 9 AM–5 PM
  • Phone: (718) 262-2272
  • Email: counseling@york.cuny.edu
School of Professional Studies Counseling Center

School of Professional Studies Counseling Center

  • Location: 119 W. 31st Street, New York, NY 10001
  • Hours: Monday–Friday, approximately 9 AM–5 PM
  • Phone: (646) 664-8647
  • Email: counseling@sps.cuny.edu
School of Law Counseling Center

School of Law Counseling Center

  • Location: 2 Court Square, Long Island City, NY 11101
  • Hours: Monday–Friday, approximately 9 AM–5 PM
  • Phone: (718) 340-4200
  • Email: studentaffairs@law.cuny.edu

Many CUNY counseling centers provide:

  • Free short-term counseling
  • Crisis support
  • LGBTQIA+ affirming referrals
  • Group therapy
  • Wellness workshops
  • Virtual appointments for students

Students experiencing urgent mental health crises can also contact NYC 988 or campus public safety for immediate assistance.

LGBTQ+ Affirming Support:

Community & Peer Support:

  1. Fountain House

To be considered for membership, the following documents must be submitted:

  • A Fountain House Membership Application online
  • A completed psychiatric attestation form, found in our online portal, signed by a licensed LCSW, NPP, PSYD, MD, PA, LHMC, or LMSW (cosigned by supervising licensed professional)
  • We strongly encourage the inclusion of supporting psychiatric and psychosocial evaluations to further facilitate our membership review process.
  • Copies of all Health Insurance cards (please note however, membership is free of charge)
  1. The Door Counseling Center
  • Intake process through visiting nearest location or through calling their number
  • Schedule initial counseling appointment through the center
  • Attend telehealth or in person appointment

Affordable & Accessible Care

Affirmative Therapy in NYC

  • Services include: Individual Psychotherapy, Couples, Relationship, & Family Therapy, Group Psychotherapy, Supervision & Consultation, In-Person Clinicians, Therapeutic Approaches
  • Payments: Insurance not accepted but out-of-network coverage is worth exploring, sliding scale, all major credit and debit cards, FSA/HSA/flex/health care savings accounts and cards, Apple pay, Android pay, Venmo and Zelle. (Contact/FAQ)

Barriers to Access
Barriers to accessing mental health care continue to affect many people despite growing awareness around mental health. Common obstacles include high costs, limited insurance coverage, provider shortages, stigma within marginalized and low-income communities, and scheduling conflicts caused by traditional Monday–Friday work hours. Although telehealth has improved accessibility since COVID, challenges such as personal connection, technology access, and out-of-state provider restrictions still impact care. These financial, social, and structural barriers often prevent people from seeking or continuing treatment, highlighting the need for more affordable, flexible, and accessible mental health services.

This website was created through the collaborative efforts of the 2026 LGBTQIA+ Health Fellows Program, an initiative founded and developed through the leadership and vision of Dr. Jan Oosting, Associate Professor, Nursing; Mateo Tebar, LGBTQIA+ Student Resource Assistant; and Anthony Sweeney, Associate Director of Student Life. Special recognition is extended to Tiya Williams, LGBTQIA+ Health Fellows Program College Assistant, for coordinating resources and supporting the website development. Additional recognition goes to Jesse Evans-Rice, Open Lab Manager, and Christina Chala, CUNY Central’s Student Inclusion Office Manager, for their guidance, support, and contributions throughout the project. Their collective dedication and commitment helped make this resource possible, and it will continue to support the community for years to come.

This project is made possible due to generous funding from the New York City Council Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual Caucus and the Office of the Mayor, and supported by The LaGuardia and Wagner Archives.