Worried About a Student? Part II

11/10/08

Submitted on behalf of Deb Harper, director of the Counseling Center, and Rory Rothman, associate vice president of student affairs and campus life.

[Editor's note: This article is part two of the Counseling Center series, "Worried about a Student?" Part one discussed how to identify and assist students at risk.]


Identifying and Working With Students in Distress

Faculty and staff members have unique access to students during their college lives and as a result, are able to notice behaviors that may indicate that a student is having problems.

Signs of distress may include:

• any behavior which may pose a threat to self or others
• unusual sadness
• crying in class, at work or during other activities
• argumentative or aggressive behavior
• withdrawal or isolation from others
• multiple conflicts or significantly strained interpersonal relations
• decline in personal hygiene
• changes in work or class attendance patterns
• decline in quality of work

If you feel comfortable doing so, then ask to meet with the student to discuss your concerns and to offer support and resources. Consult with a colleague or call the Counseling Center for help in thinking through your concerns and/or how to discuss them with the student before your meeting.

How to Assist Students in Distress

• Talk to the student in private, in a place that is safe, comfortable and free from distractions.
• Express your concerns and be supportive.
• Listen to the student’s story and allow for expression of difficult feelings.
• Encourage appropriate use of resources, and have phone numbers and addresses of on-campus resources such as the Counseling Center, Health Center, Chaplains, Public Safety, and Academic Support Services.
• Follow-up with the student to see if additional support is needed.

Safety Issues

If you are generally concerned about your own safety in meeting with someone, then arrange for a colleague to be nearby and leave your office door open when you meet with the student. If you are concerned about the immediate physical safety of yourself or a student, call the Office of Public Safety (on-campus, 274-3333).

If you have noticed a student in distress and would like to enlist help beyond your own resources, then consider reporting your concerns to the Assisting Students at Risk Initiative. This initiative is designed to simplify the reporting of concerns, identify the need for early intervention with students, and strengthen campus wide responsiveness to mental health and safety needs.

Faculty should report concerns to their respective dean’s office. Staff members are encouraged to complete the reporting form on the SACL website (see below) and submit it to the Office of Student Affairs and Campus Life or to call the office directly, 274-3374.

Students can continue to share concerns with a professional staff member who may make a formal report to Student Affairs and Campus Life.

For more information and resources, go to www.ithaca.edu/sacl.

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