Duke Health has deployed its Duke State Medical Assistance Team to the mountains of North Carolina as a part of a coordinated state emergency services response. It is also supporting multiple Duke-affiliated hospitals in the North Carolina mountains, where many communities and some college campuses including the University of North Carolina Asheville lost power and are flooded.

“We have students at Duke from communities across the Carolinas, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida affected by this massive storm, and we know they are suffering,” said Mary Pat McMahon, vice provost and vice president of student affairs. “We are contacting students through DukeReach to make sure we are giving them the support they need.”

Here are some of the cost-free support services the university provides to help Duke students, faculty and staff cope during natural disasters and other times of need:

For Students

  • DukeReach provides comprehensive outreach services to identify and support students in managing all aspects of well-being. DukeReach works closely with DISC around matters impacting international students and with academic deans and other campus resources to ensure a coordinated response to student concerns. If you are concerned about a student’s health or behavior, and your concern is not considered an emergency, please submit a DukeReach report.
  • Blue Devils Care offers Duke students 24/7, no-cost mental health support as well as scheduled counseling for common issues and concerns. All services are provided virtually.
  • Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is a service for undergraduate, graduate and professional students that provides short-term individual and group counseling, couples counseling and more. It also offers a multitude of resources and referrals to help you cope during stressful or difficult times.
  • Duke’s identity and cultural centers, including DISC and the LIFE office, provide education, advocacy and support for Duke students, including students with extended families living outside the United States.
  • Duke Chapel and Religious Life at Duke offer a wide range of student supports, whether or not you are connected to a religious tradition. Visit their website to connect with leaders from any of Duke’s diverse faith groups, all of whom are experienced in offering emotional and spiritual care to college-age students.
  • DukeLine is an anonymous, text-message platform where undergraduate students can take concerns about anxiety, conflict, identity struggles, financial stress and other topics to a peer coach who is also a Duke undergraduate students. Students can text (984) 230-4888 on evenings and weekends to reach a peer coach. Coaches are volunteers who have been trained to listen to concerns and help students find additional support and research at Duke and beyond.

For Faculty and Staff

  • Personal Assistance Service is the faculty and employee assistance program that offers assessment, short-term counseling and referrals to help resolve a range of personal, work and family problems. PAS services are available free of charge to Duke faculty and staff, and their immediate family members.

For Faculty, Staff and Students