Mental Health Resources

Behavioral Intervention Team & Counseling Services
Mental Health Emergencies

Online reporting offered by the Behavioral Intervention Team is not monitored 24/7, and the Behavioral Intervention Team does not provide emergency response services. Call 911 or Campus Police at 706-355-5039, if you are experiencing an emergency or critical incident.

Additional security/law enforcement contact information is as follows:

On-Duty Security Officer
706-621-9817

On-Duty Police Officer
706-621-9860

Emergency response services should be appropriately utilized for current or imminent threats. Though not an exhaustive list, some examples of when to call 911 and/or Campus Police are:

  • when someone is engaged in or planning severe or dangerous behaviors toward themself or others
  • when someone is engaged in or planning destructive behaviors toward property
  • when someone’s judgment and ability to care for themself are significantly compromised due to psychiatric decompensation
  • when someone is experiencing a severe medical issue.

Behavioral Intervention Team (B.I.T.)

Our MIssion

Athens Technical College’s Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) is committed to offering a comprehensive and systematic approach to addressing concerns regarding the safety and well-being of the campus community. This is accomplished through providing early intervention, timely assessments, consultation, recommendations on courses of action, support plans, referrals, and follow-up services, as deemed appropriate in each unique situation, in order to address student behaviors that have raised a concern or resulted in a crisis.

B.I.T Goals
  1. Demonstrate care and concern for the individual
  2. Help maintain a safe learning community for everyone, including students, faculty, staff, and visitors
  3. Provide a service that proactively identifies early warning signs in students who are at risk of disrupting the lives of self and/or others
  4. Reduce the likelihood of violence toward others, self-injurious behaviors, or other outcomes that could jeopardize a student’s standing in the college community or negatively impact others
  5. Support and encourage identified students to be successful members of the college community and workplace
  6. Connect identified students with needed resources available on campus and/or in the community
About Us

We are proud to have a Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) at Athens Technical College. Athens Technical College is committed to offering exceptional educational programs and services to foster an environment conducive to the pursuit of excellence. Within this complex community, we have students who face a multitude of daily challenges and personal life circumstances. Academic performance, work performance, interactions with others, and behavioral patterns are key areas in which others can recognize when a student is in need of additional support.

Athens Technical College’s BIT is comprised of a group of staff members who meet regularly to explore options and discuss plans of intervention, support, and follow-up for students whose behaviors have resulted in a report to the ATC BIT. In addition, the BIT also conducts emergency meetings when an immediate response is required. The BIT provides a means for Athens Technical College faculty, staff, and students to report concerns that involve a student who is demonstrating early warning signs that could evolve or rapidly escalate into a crisis. Please note that the BIT operates within the boundaries of current policies and procedures regarding discipline, complaints, classroom management, Title IX concerns, public safety response, and other programs and services. At the heart of BIT is the dual purpose of taking measures to help ensure campus safety and to promote an environment of care and concern for others.

In order to remain successful, the BIT relies on all members of the college community to be aware of their surroundings and to report appropriately and in a timely manner, thereby increasing the chance of early interventions and a proactive approach.

Guidance on reporting

Behaviors that cause concern for the safety or well-being of a member of the college community should be reported to the Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) as soon as possible. Delays in reporting could place others and/or the student at greater risk of harm and create additional negative consequences for the student if behaviors escalate.

All students, faculty, and staff members are urged to submit a report if they have concerns that relate to behavioral issues pertaining to a student.

Examples of Behaviors to Report

A “red flag” or concerning behavior is a questionable, suspicious, or inappropriate behavior that may be presented through appearance, speech, written works, or specific actions. Examples may include:

  • Threats to others
  • Indirect or direct threats in writings or verbalizations
  • Expression of suicidal thoughts or feelings of hopelessness
  • Overly aggressive behavior towards others
  • Self-injurious behaviors
  • Low frustration tolerance
  • Overreaction to circumstances
  • Appearance of being overly nervous, tense, or tearful
Questions to Consider

Consider the following questions as a general guide when deciding whether or not to report—and remember to trust your instinct. This is not an exhaustive list of considerations.

  • Have you noticed any significant changes in the individual’s mood, behavior, or social functioning?
  • Are there disruptive behaviors that could escalate and place the individual and/or others at risk of harm?
  • Do you sense that the individual is struggling to maintain in the college environment?
  • Do you believe the individual is at risk of harming self or others?
  • Have you noticed any signs that could indicate self-mutilation, such as observable cuts or burns?
  • Has the individual made any direct or veiled comments or threats related to suicide or homicide, either in verbal or written communication?
  • Do you suspect current alcohol or drug-related issues?

Lindsey Brooker

Counseling Coordinator, Behavioral Intervention Team Chair

Athens CampusK-614B

706-552-0984

Email

Contact the B.I.T Chair if you have non-emergency requests or suggestions. DO NOT use this contact information for making a report. Instead, make a report using the form linked below.

Counseling Services

While attending college can be an exciting time in the life of a student, it can also come with a number of challenges when family, school, and work responsibilities compete for your time. Students are encouraged to seek guidance from our Counseling Office, located in our Student Success Center.

Although unable to provide ongoing counseling, a Counseling Coordinator can assist students who are in crisis, seeking to identify opportunities for academic and personal growth, or struggling with day-to-day challenges. A Counseling Coordinator can also help connect students with other on-campus services. If additional counseling services are needed, we offer referrals to mental health resources in the community, which are able to serve students on an ongoing basis.

In cases involving a referral, Counseling Services can assist students in locating a mental health provider who either accepts a student’s current insurance coverage or extends a sliding fee scale.

Counseling Coordinators

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact someone in the counseling office:

Lindsey Brooker

Counseling Coordinator, Behavioral Intervention Team Chair

Athens CampusK-614B

706-552-0984

Email

Anna Jester

Counseling Coordinator & Veterans Liaison

Athens CampusK-614D

706-227-7174

Email

Mental Health Resources

We know that college can be stressful on top of normal everyday life. Our faculty, staff, and community have many resources available for you no matter the issue you are facing. Please let us know how we can help or direct you to resources.

Internal Resources

Lindsey Brooker

Counseling Coordinator, Behavioral Intervention Team Chair

Athens CampusK-614B

706-552-0984

Email

Anna Jester

Counseling Coordinator & Veterans Liaison

Athens CampusK-614D

706-227-7174

Email

Jessica Felts

Director, Student Support Services

Athens CampusK-614A

706-583-2893

Email

Shelby Maxwell

Coordinator - Special Populations

Athens CampusK-614C

706-355-5006

Email

External Resources

Sexual Violence/ Assault

The Cottage (24hr Crisis Hotline)
706-353-1912/ 877-363-1912

The Cottage Website

Suicide Prevention Lifeline

24hr Crisis Hotline
800-273-8255

SuicidePreventionLifeline.org

Veterans Crisis Line

Dial 988, Press 1

VeteransCrisisLine.net

Mental Health

24-hour crisis line
800-715-4225
Adult Mental Health Crisis Services

Advantage Behavioral Health
855-333-9544
AdvantageBHS.org

Substance Abuse

24-hour crisis line
800-715-4225

SAMHSA’s National Helpline
800-662-4357
SamHSA.gov

United Way of Northeast Georgia

United Way connects families with the community-based resources they need to thrive. Dial 211 to be connected to trained, bilingual Community Connection Specialists who provide information on services and referrals to programs aligned with the individual’s specific needs.

More Information