diff --git a/src/discord/utils/commandCooldown.ts b/src/discord/utils/commandCooldown.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c866997c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/discord/utils/commandCooldown.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+import { User, GuildMember } from 'discord.js';
+
+// Map to store cooldowns for users and their commands
+const cooldowns = new Map<string, Map<string, number>>();
+
+/**
+ * commandCooldown
+ * @param {User | GuildMember} user The user or guild member
+ * @param {string} commandName The name of the command being executed
+ * @param {number} cooldownAmount The cooldown duration in milliseconds (default is 30 seconds)
+ * @return {Promise<{ success: boolean; message?: string }>}
+ */
+async function commandCooldown(
+  user: User | GuildMember,
+  commandName: string,
+  cooldownAmount: number = 30000,
+): Promise<{ success: boolean; message?: string }> {
+  const now = Date.now();
+
+  // Ensure there's a map for the user in the cooldowns map
+  if (!cooldowns.has(user.id)) {
+    cooldowns.set(user.id, new Map());
+  }
+
+  const userCooldowns = cooldowns.get(user.id) as Map<string, number>;
+
+  // Check if the user has a cooldown for the specific command
+  const commandExpiration = userCooldowns.get(commandName);
+  if (commandExpiration) {
+    const expirationTime = commandExpiration + cooldownAmount;
+
+    // If the cooldown is still active, inform the user
+    if (now < expirationTime) {
+      const timeLeft = (expirationTime - now) / 1000; // Time left in seconds
+      return {
+        success: false,
+        message: `Please wait ${timeLeft.toFixed(1)} more seconds before using this command or button again.`,
+      };
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Set or reset the cooldown for the specific command
+  userCooldowns.set(commandName, now);
+
+  return { success: true };
+}
+
+export default commandCooldown;
diff --git a/src/discord/utils/tripsitme.ts b/src/discord/utils/tripsitme.ts
index 5e2efeff..ead1b5eb 100644
--- a/src/discord/utils/tripsitme.ts
+++ b/src/discord/utils/tripsitme.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ import { ticket_status, user_tickets } from '@prisma/client';
 import commandContext from './context';
 import { embedTemplate } from './embedTemplate';
 import { checkChannelPermissions, checkGuildPermissions } from './checkPermissions';
+import { commandCooldown } from './commandCooldown';
 
 const F = f(__filename);
 
@@ -837,6 +838,13 @@ export async function tripsitmeUserClose(
   if (!interaction.channel) return;
   log.info(F, await commandContext(interaction));
 
+  const cooldown = await commandCooldown(interaction.user, interaction.customId);
+
+  if (!cooldown.success && cooldown.message) {
+    await interaction.reply({ content: cooldown.message, ephemeral: true });
+    return;
+  }
+
   await interaction.deferReply({ ephemeral: false });
 
   const targetId = interaction.customId.split('~')[1];
@@ -1182,6 +1190,12 @@ export async function tripSitMe(
     return null;
   }
 
+  const cooldown = await commandCooldown(interaction.user, interaction.customId);
+
+  if (!cooldown.success && cooldown.message) {
+    await interaction.editReply(cooldown.message);
+  }
+
   // const actor = interaction.member;
   const guildData = await db.discord_guilds.upsert({
     where: {
@@ -1462,6 +1476,13 @@ export async function tripsitmeButton(
   log.info(F, await commandContext(interaction));
   const target = interaction.member as GuildMember;
 
+  const cooldown = await commandCooldown(interaction.user, interaction.customId);
+
+  if (!cooldown.success && cooldown.message) {
+    await interaction.reply({ content: cooldown.message, ephemeral: true });
+    return;
+  }
+
   // log.debug(F, `target: ${JSON.stringify(target, n ull, 2)}`);
 
   // const actorIsAdmin = target.permissions.has(PermissionsBitField.Flags.Administrator);
diff --git a/src/global/utils/timer.ts b/src/global/utils/timer.ts
index 2591d035..2e63e9df 100644
--- a/src/global/utils/timer.ts
+++ b/src/global/utils/timer.ts
@@ -1075,9 +1075,12 @@ async function checkMoodle() { // eslint-disable-line
             },
               ); // eslint-disable-line
           }
-
-          member.roles.add(role);
-          log.info(F, `Gave ${member.user.username} the ${role.name} role`);
+          if (!member.roles.cache.has(env.ROLE_NEEDS_HELP)) {
+            member.roles.add(role);
+            log.info(F, `Gave ${member.user.username} the ${role.name} role`);
+          } else {
+            log.info(F, `Skipped giving ${member.user.username} the ${role.name} because they have the Needs Help role`);
+          }
 
           // eslint-disable max-len
           member.user.send({