CARE Team
If you're concerned about a student’s well-being, MHC’s CARE Team is here to help. The team offers coordinated support for students exhibiting concerning behaviour, aiming to connect them with resources and reduce potential risks.
Anyone—students, employees, or family members—can submit a referral using the CARE referral form. Before referring, speak with the student, listen to their concerns, and let them know you’re making a referral. Your care is the first step.
Use the Decision Making Tree to guide your support for the student and making a CARE referral.
Crisis Response
If you have concerns about the imminent safety and well-being of someone on campus, please call MHC Security at 403-529-3911.
An emergency situation includes:
- Active violence towards self, others or property
- Assault in progress
- In progress suicide attempt
- In progress overdose/suspicion of overdose
- A direct, realistic threat towards others
- A medical emergency
The Care Team is positioned for early intervention. Our goal is to connect with an individual before they reach a crisis point. The team meets weekly and may meet more frequently if the need arises, but it is not a 24/7 crisis team. If you need the Mental Health Crisis Team please call or text 9-8-8.
Depending on the type of concern reported, Care Team members will reach out to provide appropriate support and intervention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact the CARE Team if you feel the student is in need of additional intervention and support outside of what you are able to provide. The CARE Team has the connections to get the right help for the situation.
Anyone can make a referral. Students, faculty, staff, family and friends are all welcome to contact the CARE Team if they have concerns about a Medicine Hat College student.
Do not worry that you are over-reacting. The CARE Team will assess risks and act to help the student as needed. And early intervention is often the key to reducing the risk of potential crisis.
You will receive notification that the CARE referral has been submitted. The CARE Team will contact you only if needed to support the student. The Care Team follows up with the student within 24 business hours of receiving the report.
*Please note, the CARE referral system is monitored Monday to Friday, excluding Stats, between 8:30am and 4:30pm . If you need immediate assistance, call MHC security at 403-529-3911
You can report any behaviour you find concerning, troubling, disruptive or highly unusual for that individual such as:
- Changes in typical personality (for example, the person is more withdrawn than usual
- Experience of a traumatic event (such as the loss of a loved one, accident, violence)
- Social withdrawal, isolation, loneliness, lack of support
- Indicators of deteriorating mental health
- Mentions of struggling with mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety, substance use, eating disorders
- Relationship difficulties (such as conflict, violence, loss)
- Lack of basic needs (such as housing, food, transportation)
- Marked irritability, anger, hostility
- Explosive or impulsive behaviours
- Delusional or paranoid speech or actions
- Difficulty connecting to others
- Expressions of hopelessness or worthlessness
- Talking or writing about themes of suicide and loss of will to live
- Direct mentions of self-injury, suicide or harm to others
- Chronic fatigue
- Marked change in personal hygiene or appearance
- Attendance to class or work hungover or intoxicated
- Signs of self-injury
- Lack of empathy or concern for consequences
Please complete the form in its entirety. The more information you provide, the better the CARE team can determine level of intervention.
Reminder: It is best to inform the student you are making a CARE referral.