The Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) at UNH supports students in managing significant mental health concerns. BIT members work directly with students to make referrals, ensure that they are connected to appropriate support, and promote a safe, successful, and non-disruptive environment on campus.
What Does BIT Do?
BIT’s primary function is to promote a safe environment on campus and connect distressed students to support. Steps BIT may take in support of that environment include:
- Gathering and managing information from concerned students, faculty, and staff;
- Connecting with external partners such as family members and treatment providers;
- Assisting students whose mental health concern prevents them from participating in their classes (e.g. when they are hospitalized);
- Intervening when a student’s behavior is disrupting the living or learning community;
- Assessing the level of threat a student’s behavior poses to themselves or the community;
- Making referrals to students and following up with them to ensure they are connecting with those referrals.
Helping a Student in Distress
The Chair of BIT is the Dean of Students. To connect with the BIT, contact the Dean of Students. Visit our Helping a Student in Distress page for more information and strategies for helping a struggling student, including when you might want to connect with the Dean of Students about a situation. The website also includes information about when to contact the University Police Department about a mental health emergency.
BIT Members
- Ruth Abelmann, Director, Residential Life
- Mike Blackman, Dean of Students, BIT Chair
- Elisa Bolton, Interim Director, Psychological and Counseling Center
- Kristin Carpenter, Associate Director, Residential Life
- Paul Dean, UNH Chief of Police
- Kathleen Grace-Bishop, Director of Education & Promotion, Health & Wellness;
- Scott Lapinski, Director, Student Accessibility Services
- Patty Mathison, Basic Needs Coordinator and Case Manager
- Alexis Piñero-Benson, Director, Community Standards
- Nate Talbot, Director, University Advising Center
