Personal Student Support

SUNY Empire has staff to support you when you need assistance addressing needs around food, housing, mental health, and a variety of other resources. If you would like to discuss options with the basic needs coordinator, email basicneeds@esc.edu to schedule an appointment today

SUNY Empire has partnered with CashCourse, a guide to making informed financial decisions. CashCourse offers a self-paced course to learn more about your earnings, spending, and borrowing. To access your free account, visit Create a CashCourse Login page and select create a free account. Select New York State and SUNY Empire State University, and you are on your way to better financial education!

Mental Health Counseling for SUNY Empire State University

LifeWorks MySSP offers free and confidential mental health counseling for all students. Counseling sessions are offered in several different languages immediately and accessed from anywhere.

Find Support in any of the three following ways:

1. Download the App from any device store to use the chat feature to text with a mental health professional, access on-demand counseling services, and find many mental wellness resources. Once downloaded, search for SUNY Empire State University, enter your details, agree to terms and conditions, and you are ready to access all LifeWorks MySSP has to offer.

Find the App for your device below:

• Apple App Store
• Google Play Store 
• Android

2. Visit LifeWorks MySSP.App finds phone numbers or use the chat feature to text with a mental health professional. Find the features you need by selecting ‘Get Support’ at the top of the page. Follow the instructions to find the best resources Lifeworks has to offer.

3. Call Lifeworks MySSP directly to talk to a licensed mental health therapist at 1 (866) 743-7732 (United States Only). International phone numbers are found at MySSP.App.

Any questions? Reach out to basicneeds@esc.edu.

SUNY Crisis Text Line

Students looking to engage with a trained counselor can find support on SUNY's Crisis Text Line. The 24/7 service provides a confidential way to reach out when you are experiencing difficult feelings such as loneliness, stress, depression, or having thoughts of suicide.

To reach out, text Got5U to 741-741

NY Project Hope

Mental Health should always be a priority. To reach the NY Project Hope Emotional Support Helpline assist New York State residents with coping with COVID.

Call 844-863-9314 to speak with a peer about understanding reactions and emotions during COVID-19

Thriving Campus

SUNY and off-campus mental health provider application, ThrivingCampus, partnered to enhance mental health options in your local community. The ThrivingCampus application filters potential mental health providers based on your search criteria to find local providers. Students who do not have insurance may filter by providers who offer a sliding scale option based on yearly income.

Visit Thriving Campus today to find your mental health provider

National Suicide Lifeline

If you're thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States by calling 1-800-273-8255 or visiting their website now!

Are you having trouble finding a local provider?

Reach out to the basic needs coordinator to find local community resources at basicneeds@esc.edu

SUNY Empire has provided all available funds to students, and we are no longer taking new applications at this time.

SUNY Empire recognizes that our students have temporary setbacks or face emergencies that can devastate their educational goals. In a partnership with the SUNY Empire State University Foundation and the Ichigo Foundation, SUNY Empire can provide one-time basic need emergency grants to students in need. Students should apply if they meet the following criteria:

• Currently enrolled in at least one credit and  matriculated in a SUNY Empire degree program.
• Demonstrate immediate financial need
• Have not exhausted available financial aid grants
• Havenot received a previous grant from the emergency student grant fund

Grants cannot exceed $250 per student and must be used for one or more of the following categories:

• Urgent need for food or groceries
• Critical past due partial rent/mortgage payments
• Emergency housing or hotel
• Child care
• Mental health provider co-pay or sliding scale fee for self
• Needs related to personal safety (domestic violence or similar)
• Transportation (public transportation, fuel, or car repair)
• Critical past due utility payments (electrical, natural gas, or internet)
• Medications and other costs related to emergent medical care

To be considered for a one-time basic needs grant, students must complete the One Time Basic Needs Emergency Grant Application. Once the application is submitted, a committee will review the responses and return a decision within five business days of receiving the application. Students should thoroughly describe their needs to be considered for funding. Due to limited funds, not all applications will receive funding. These grants do not have to be repaid and will be reviewed on a rolling basis until all funds are given away.

Any additional questions can be sent to basicneeds@esc.edu

An All-in-one Benefits Screener and Local Basic Needs Resource Tool. Single Stop and SUNY Empire have partnered to bring 24/7 access to basic needs resources to your fingertips. Once on the Single Stop, press the big green "Let’s Get Started!" button to start a series of questions to determine what federal, state, and local benefits you may qualify for.

Need to find local resources in NY that may help with housing, food, immigration, transportation, and work resources, check out the Single Stop Resource Tool!