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Midshipman Counseling and Personal Development maintains the highest standards of
confidentiality. Information will not be released to others without your written permission, with
few exceptions (e.g., threats to harm self or others). If a situation warrants sharing of
information, MCPD will try to fully discuss it with you before taking any action, if possible
under the circumstances.
The Department of Health Services observes strict rules of confidentiality and follows federal and state
privacy rules which govern personal health information. Patient charts are securely maintained,
and no patient health information is released to third parties without a signed authorization, or as
otherwise required or allowed by law. All DHS team members are trained in the practice of
handling confidential medical information.
1. Call campus EMS at x5858 from any Academy phone or 516.726.5858.
If there is a Behavioral Health Emergency after hours, USMMA EMS has a
behavioral response protocol. This gives Midshipman the opportunity to be
transported to the hospital by a Northwell Ambulance instead of the USMMA EMS
Team.
2. National 24-hour Suicide Hotline call 988.
3. Northwell Adult Behavioral Health Crisis Walk in Clinic M-F, 0900-1500.
https://www.northwell.edu/behavioral-health/programs-services/adult-behavioralhealth-
crisis-center
4. National Alliance on Mental Illness Emergency phone numbers for Queens, Nassau,
Suffolk and New York State: https://namiqn.org/crisis-info/
5. Midshipmen who enroll and maintain medical coverage in The Student Health
Insurance Plan (SHIP) sponsored by USMMA have access to “CareConnect”.
CareConnect is an integrated behavioral health program offering students easy access
to licensed behavioral health clinicians 24/7/365 days a year via telephone. Connect
to a registered nurse within seconds at (888) 857-5462 for assistance in managing
your health on your terms. You can also download the app “Wellfleet Student”. When
connecting you may be asked to provide:
• Policy number or school name
• Nature of your call and/or emergency
• Current location
• Contact phone number and email address
• Secondary point of contact
• Date of birth
It is sometimes hard to know how to help a friend who is going through a tough time. Here are
some simple tips to supporting a friend in need:
1. Ask if they are okay. Sometimes just asking that question can help someone start talking
about what is going on in their lives.
2. Listening. Hear what your friend is saying, let them share their thoughts and feelings.
3. Ask if there is anything you can do to support them. Sometimes people are not
comfortable asking for help.
4. Plan a self-care activity together such as going for a run, watching a movie or a meal
together. Find something to do together and/or with your friend group.
5. Encourage them to find support with someone they trust like their mentor, professor,
family member and/or fellow Midshipman.
MCPD is a good resource to recommend to friends you feel may benefit!
Understanding how you spend your time and what things get in the way of productivity is the
first step to time management. Here are 3 tips to increase productivity:
1. To Do List: Prioritize your tasks such as by timeline, when items are due.
2. Calendar: Put your prioritized items in a calendar, with an estimate of the amount of
time you think the task will take. Be honest with your time-frames and put breaks in.
3. Distractors: Know your distractors and minimize them. Turn off your phone for a
defined period of time so you are less likely to scroll social media, and watch you-tube
videos. Try not to play that video game or chat with your friend when you have set aside
time to focus on a task.
MCPD is a good resource for additional strategies to improve time management skills!
Maintaining healthy sleep habits is essential to physical and mental well-being. Here are 3 tips to
enhance sleep:
1. Bedtime Routine: Making sure your room is quiet, dark and at a comfortable
temperature and shutting down devices can improve the quality of your sleep and has a
wide-range of benefits.
2. Caffeine Substitutes: Most herbal teas are caffeine-free but their aromas may still be
energizing. Reducing caffeine intake can help you fall asleep faster and increase sleep
intensity. Look at the time you are ingesting caffeine; some people can have caffeine
right before bed and it will not be an issue, while others need a cut-off time. Track your
use to help determine when you need to stop caffeine.
3. Napping: Napping can be restorative for those who need to catch up on sleep. To get the
full benefits of napping, the best nap length is 20 minutes and no longer than 30 minutes.
Napping earlier in the day can limit its effect on nighttime sleep quality.
MCPD is a good resource for additional strategies to promote healthy sleep habits!
1. Call campus EMS at x5858 from any Academy phone or 516.726.5858.
If there is a Behavioral Health Emergency after hours, USMMA EMS has a
behavioral response protocol. This gives Midshipman the opportunity to be
transported to the hospital by a Northwell Ambulance instead of the USMMA EMS
Team.
2. National 24-hour Suicide Hotline call 988.
3. Northwell Adult Behavioral Health Crisis Walk in Clinic M-F, 0900-1500.
https://www.northwell.edu/behavioral-health/programs-services/adult-behavioralhealth-
crisis-center
4. National Alliance on Mental Illness Emergency phone numbers for Queens, Nassau,
Suffolk and New York State: https://namiqn.org/crisis-info/
5. Midshipmen who enroll and maintain medical coverage in The Student Health
Insurance Plan (SHIP) sponsored by USMMA have access to “CareConnect”.
CareConnect is an integrated behavioral health program offering students easy access
to licensed behavioral health clinicians 24/7/365 days a year via telephone. Connect
to a registered nurse within seconds at (888) 857-5462 for assistance in managing
your health on your terms. You can also download the app “Wellfleet Student”. When
connecting you may be asked to provide:
• Policy number or school name
• Nature of your call and/or emergency
• Current location
• Contact phone number and email address
• Secondary point
Everyone feels stressed at one time or another, whether it is due to academics, regimental life,
relationships or general life events. Here are 3 simple things that you can implement today to
reduce the tension you may feel:
1. Deep Breathing: Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Take slow,
deep breaths using your diaphragm. Take at least 20 deep breaths. At the end of this
exercise your body should feel less tense and more relaxed.
2. Exercise: Research suggests that exercising for 150 minutes per week will reduce
feelings of stress. Exercise is known to increase endorphins and also improve mood. This
can include going to the gym or something simple such as taking a walk or stretching in
your room.
3. Me Time: Take time for yourself. Do whatever it is that helps you feel grounded,
whether that’s speaking with a friend or going for a walk.
MCPD is a good resource for additional strategies to manage stress and promote
relaxation!
Midshipmen who seek support at MCPD typically make an appointment via email or phone.
Staff will ask for your schedule so the appointment can be given during one of your free periods
so it will not impact your academic courses. For urgent issues, Midshipmen can come to MCPD
during sick call M-F at 0730, or any time during regular business hours (M-F, 0830-1630).
During your initial visit you will meet with one of our clinical team members and will be given
an intake form. The form will ask general questions regarding who referred you, what issues you
would like to address, your major, grade point average and other general questions about you and
your life at the Academy.
The clinical team member will be in the room with you, so if you have any questions regarding
the form, you can ask as you complete it. Your clinical assessment will start with a discussion
about the issues you would like to address with your clinician. You will cover overall wellness
such as sleep, nutrition, exercise and your support system. Your clinician will use this initial
session to get to know you and to see in what areas you may need support and skills. You and
your clinician will then discuss two or three short-term goals to work on.