<p>Long story short: mental health issues have prevented me from doing well in college and I will most likely be forced on a mandatory leave of absence at the end of the quarter in 3 weeks. I will lose my financial aid and I will be forced to move out of the dorms. I’ll be left with only a few hundred dollars in my checking account and no place to stay. Any advice?</p>
<p>A bit more background:</p>
<p>I grew up in an abusive family and I ran away from home at 18. (I had to run because my family wouldn’t let me go.) Haven’t had any contact with my extended family since and don’t intend to change that in the near future. All of my friends are college students themselves and won’t be able to offer me a place to stay until I can get back on my feet.</p>
<p>I’ve reached out to various mental health and social services agencies in the past but the intake interview has always triggered so much anxiety that I never had the courage to go back a second time or follow up on their recommendations. In light of the looming crisis, I’ve tried to see a counselor at the school counseling center, but I was told that they wouldn’t be able to see me this quarter due to capacity reasons. </p>
<p>I’m really really really scared and I have no idea what to do. </p>
<p>P.S. In case it matters, I live in Northern California and I’m a female in my early 20s.</p>
<p>Use the time to recontact social service agencies in your area - mental health services and shelters. You’ll need to find a way to get past the intake interviews so that you can get help and not be out on the street without a place to stay. It will be almost impossible to find a job otherwise and get on your feet. A tough situation, good luck to you. If you have any relative you trust who might take you in I would say to pursue that if at all possible.</p>
<p>How old are you, and how long has it been since you left home? It might be that you would be eligible for services through programs for victims of domestic violence. Perhaps call a DV hotline in your area?</p>
<p>Since the intake interview seems to be a hurdle, can you get a supportive friend to go with you, or contact the agency on the phone to see if there is any other way to handle the interview? I think it would be worth trying again at campus mental health services. I would try to talk to someone in charge, not just a receptionist. If a phone call doesn’t work, go in person…sometimes when someone is standing right in front of them asking for help, they can find a way to squeeze you in.</p>
<p>Can you talk to a dean at your school explaining the urgency of your situation? He/she might be able to help you get some emergency mental health services on campus.
Would the parents of any of your friends be able to provide any assistance?</p>
<p>What about a clergyman? Is there a chaplain at your school who might be able to offer some advice?</p>
<p>Thanks, everyone. I really appreciate your thoughts and suggestions. </p>
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Hadn’t even considered that… The problem aren’t the interviews themselves but the inevitable post-interview panic that follows tapping into traumatic material. But maybe spending the rest of the day with a friend will help keep me grounded. I will try to do that from now on.</p>
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Will do.</p>
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I did not realize that the deans talked to students? I always thought of them as administrators. </p>
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I’d feel HORRIBLE for imposing on them. I might regret this stance in the future but right now I’d honestly rather be homeless than a burden on someone else. </p>
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Not much of a religious person. Would they talk to me even if they’d never seen me before?</p>
<p>Yes, a school chaplain will talk to you. They are sometimes knowledgeable about community resources.</p>
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<p>Domestic violence is not the same thing as family violence. The OP might qualify for resources, but it’s extremely unlikely to get support for parental abuse from a DV source.</p>
<p>211 is a great resource if you want to try to find local resources.</p>
<p>“You’ll need to find a way to get past the intake interviews so that you can get help and not be out on the street without a place to stay.” - True. </p>
<p>Try google to find a Stephen Ministry service in your area. The assigned caregivers are associated with local churches, but there are no religious strings attached. GOOD LUCK.
[Stephen</a> Ministry](<a href=“http://www.stephenministries.org/stephenministry/default.cfm/917]Stephen”>What Is Stephen Ministry?)</p>
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<p>Op stated the following</p>
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<p>I don’t have any advice but I do want to offer my support. I am sorry that things did not work out at school. You appear to have accomplished a great deal despite your circumstances. You left an abusive situation, got admitted to college, supported yourself, etc. Although the situation with your school is a step backward, you should be proud of the positive changes you have made.</p>
<p>Thanks Sybbie,</p>
<p>I missed that she had added that after I posted.</p>
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<p>Please dispense with that thinking pronto and do not consider homelessness as a reasonable alternative to accepting help. There will be opportunities to repay kindness. I’m not sure you understand the difficulties you would face to climb out of homelessness.</p>
<p>I agree with Snowdog! I would gladly help any of my D’s friends if they were in need. Many years ago I was homeless and I wish I had somebody I could have reached out to. Please do so, people really DO want to help.</p>
<p>I’m sorry you’re going through this. Do you have insurance (at least until your semester ends) and would they cover a private counselor?</p>
<p>A little bit of tough love here. Are you taking your meds? If so what is your ability to function? A little bit of a rhetorical question since you need to be able to function unless you want to be subject to the largesse of family or friends or God forbid the State. Take your meds and push yourself to function as best you can. Hopefully you can get enough work to share an apartment and carve out your niche in the world. God Bless</p>
<p>How bad is your mental illness? Do you feel with extra support (and assuming you are taking your meds and are on the correct meds) you could stay in school and at least pass the next semester? If so, then I would go back to your counselor or the dean or whomoever at your school makes those decisions and appeal their decision. You MUST get professional medical help - either through the student center or a local mental health facility in order for the school to even want to help you. Without this help there is no reason for the school to expect that the next quarter will be any better than the last. Work with your school counselor to determine if a lighter load of classes along with professional mental health could potentially work for you. I would think that the school is probably thinking that a semester home with mom and dad could make a big positive difference -as it may for many kids. However they may not realize that for you this decision of theirs would push you into homelessness. Definately not a positive result. If they are aware of this, they may be willing to give you a second chance with proper medical care and a reasonable course load. I am not sure if schools have Ombudsmen or a similar such office but if so, that may be a place to look as well.</p>
<p>Also, is there any way you can salvage this semester? It sounds as if this decision is based on the fact that you are in danger of flunking all of your classes. If there are still three weeks in the semester, is there any way to salvage enough of your classes to at least pass the semester?</p>
<p>Also, don’t discount help from friends families. It is hard to reach out but just know that if you were one of my kids friends, I wouldn’t hesitate to help.</p>
<p>The OP is in a situation that is a huge problem in this country. Take the “college student” and replace it with “person” and it become a common issue in many places. Since the OP is no longer going to be a college student, what she needs to do is find out what resources are available for some one in her situation. That she was in college is an additional resource in that there may be some one or something that can give some advice.</p>
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<p>I agree. Your thinking that you may be a burden is a result of your abusive childhood. While some people may be unable to help due to their own circumstances, others may be very willing and able. Please reach out to those adults who may be able to offer some sort of assistance. Your friends’ parents may be wonderful resources, possibly in more ways than you can imagine. You don’t need to go through this alone.</p>