Helping Students in Distress: A Guide for Faculty and Staff
Many college students encounter academic, personal, and social stress
during their educational experience. Most students cope successfully
with the demands of college life and the interpersonal experiences and
transition that go along with it, but for some students these difficulties
can become overpowering and unmanageable.
Faculty and staff are frequently in the most direct position to identify
students in distress. Moreover, staff and faculty are often perceived
by students as the first point of contact in obtaining advice and support.
Your expression of interest and concern may be critical in helping a
student reestablish the emotional equilibrium necessary for academic
success.
Recognizing Distressed Students
A referral for counseling can be made when you believe a student’s
problems go beyond your experience and expertise, or when you feel uncomfortable
helping a student with an issue. A referral may be made either because
of the way the student’s problems are interfering with academics
or with your teaching, or because observation of the student’s
personal behavior raises concerns apart from academic work.
At one time or another, everyone feels upset. However, when some of
the following are present, the student is probably in distress:
- Noticeable decline in quality of work or writing and class participation;
increased absences, tardiness, or failure to turn in work
- Prolonged appearance of depression (e.g., sad expression, apathy,
tearfulness, distractibility, weight loss)
- Nervousness, agitation, irritability, aggressiveness, non-stop
talking
- Bizarre behavior or speech
- Extreme dependency on faculty or staff, including spending much
time visiting during office hours or other times
- Marked change in personal hygiene
- Talk of suicide, either directly or indirectly (e.g., "I won’t
be around to take that exam anyway." or "I’m not worried
about getting a job, I won’t need one.")
- Comments in a student’s paper that arouse concern
Any one of the above signs present in a student does
not absolutely indicate the student is in serious distress. Many
disturbances during college are relatively transient. However, you may
become alarmed by changes which are extreme or by significant changes
that last longer than is typical. If there is doubt about the seriousness
of the problem, consult with the health center or the counselor about
evaluating the situation and taking the most appropriate steps.
What Can You Do?
The options you choose depend upon the urgency of the situation. For
students who are having difficulty but seem able to cope, you may choose
not to intervene, to limit your interaction to the academic issue, or
to deal with it on a more personal level. If you judge a situation to
be more urgent, you might decide that more active and timely involvement
on your part is appropriate.
How Do You Make a Referral?
When you have decided a student might benefit from counseling, it
is usually best to express your recommendation in a matter-of-fact manner.
Make it clear that this represents your best judgment based on your
observations of the student. Be specific regarding the behavior that
has raised your concerns and avoid attributing anything negative to
the individual's character.
Except in an emergency, the option must be left open for the student
to accept or refuse counseling. If the student is reluctant for any
reason, simply express your acceptance of those feelings so that your
relationship with the student is not jeopardized. Give the student room
to consider alternatives by suggesting that maybe you can talk after
the student has had some time to think it over.
Once the student has agreed that counseling might be useful, there
are several possible steps to take, depending on the urgency of the
situation and how committed the student is to following through on the
referral. You can give the student information about AUI Counseling
and urge the student to email for an appointment or to drop by Building
6, #108 where hours are posted.
In emergency situations involving students who are unwilling or unable
to seek help on their own, staff and faculty members may call the counselor
at (cell) 073-603-195 or the health center at extension 2057. For any
referral, whether the student accepts it or not, follow up with him
or her later to show your continuing interest.
What Happens at Counseling?
Once the student contacts the counselor, an appointment is made for
an initial interview. This is usually within a few days from the time
of contact, but can often even happen the same day. In an emergency,
the student will be seen that day.
During the first meeting, a counselor assesses the student's needs
and the ways that AUI may be able to help. Options the counselor considers
include individual counseling and / or referral to Dr. Jalal Toufiq,
M.D. who schedules appointments every Friday afternoon. Some students
may leave the initial appointment feeling able to handle their concerns
without further assistance.
Counseling services provided at AUI for students, faculty and staff
are free and confidential. Information is released only with written
permission. Exceptions to confidentiality may occur if there is clear
danger to self or others.
Consultation Is Available to You
If you have concerns and questions about a student, the counseling
and health staff is available to help you:
- Assess the situation, its seriousness, and potential referral.
- Learn about resources so you can suggest the most appropriate help
when talking with the student.
- Learn the best way to make a referral if appropriate.
- Clarify your own feelings about the student and consider the ways
you can be most effective.
Important Contact Information
Building 6, Office #108 ext. -2034
Brochure text courtesy of The University of Iowa Counseling Service
www.uiowa.edu/~ucs/helping.html
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