About Crisis Chat
MSU Safe Place Crisis Chat is staffed by SACI volunteers. Crisis chat is available from 10AM-10PM EST, daily. Our volunteers are here to support survivors, their friends, and family.
NOTICE: If the teal crisis chat box is not appearing on the bottom right-hand corner of your screen go into your browser's privacy settings and turn off any third-party cookie blockers, refresh the page and try again.
Support includes:
- Discussing feelings, and experiences related to relationship violence and/or stalking
- Answering questions about MSU Safe Place services
- Connecting to campus & community resources
- Information about advocacy services (housing, academic, medical, legal), counseling services or University processes
- Answering questions you have about relationship violence or stalking
Crisis Chat is not a replacement for therapy. However, it is a way to get immediate support and access to resources.
MSU Safe Place offers free individual and group therapy, advocacy and shelter for MSU faculty, staff, and students as well as non-affiliated members of Ingham County.
What to Expect
- Log on to our website, safeplace.msu.edu
- Click the teal chat box in the bottom right corner. Begin the chat at any time.
- A confidential MSU Safe Place crisis chat advocate will respond to your message.
- Our crisis chat support staff are not professional counselors, but rather are trained volunteers here to offer support and direct you to helpful resources.
- You aren't required to share anything (name, email, phone number, age, etc.) with our support staff except what you deem necessary. Our goal is to reduce the negative impact of whatever you are experiencing.
- To end the chat, click End Chat in the top left corner of the chat box.
The MSU Safe Place Crisis Chat is intended for survivors and co-survivors of relationship violence and stalking who are in need of support. If you are looking to receive services from MSU Safe Place, please call 517-355-1100 or email noabuse@msu.edu.
Confidentiality
MSU Safe Place respects the principle of confidentiality for all clients. Additionally, domestic and sexual violence programs are covered under a Michigan Law protecting confidentiality, and federal funding through VOCA requires certain standards of confidentiality. Our confidentiality policy remains in effect except for a few circumstances. To view our complete confidentiality policy view the confidentiality tab on the Support Services page.
Speaking or chatting with SACI advocate means that you agree to the terms of our confidentiality policy.
Please feel free to ask MSU Safe Place staff to address any concerns you have about confidentiality before you share any information.
Suicide and Homicide
If you report that you are actively suicidal or homicidal, we will encourage you to seek out emergency help or contact 911.
MSU Safe Place will make every effort to secure your privacy. We do not ask for any identifying information (such as name, student ID, or location), except in cases where we believe you are at risk of harming yourself or another. Please be aware that internet communication is never fully guaranteed to be private. If at any time you do not feel safe sharing information via Crisis Chat, please call our main line at (517) 355-1100.
Resources
If you cannot reach a support staff member, or if you would prefer to talk to someone by phone, please contact our main line at (517) 355-1100 Monday-Friday between 9am-5pm.
If it is after hours or the weekend, please call the Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline at (866) 864-2338 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.
If you are in immediate danger, please call 911.
To schedule an appointment with MSU Safe Place please call (517) 355-1100
If you are not part of Michigan State University, please feel free to contact the resources below to help you find support near you.
Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline
- Hotline: (866) 864-2338
- Crisis Chat: mcedsv.org/hotline-domestic-violence/hotline-chat/
National Domestic Violence Hotline
- Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
- Crisis Chat: www.thehotline.org/#