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What Can We Do?
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Shared Responsibility: Recognizing and
Helping Students in Distress
A Guide for Faculty, Staff and Students
Prepared by the Counseling Center
Fort Lewis College
The College Student Profile
With one foot firmly planted in adolescence and the other in adulthood, the college student faces a variety of issues including identity, priorities and lifestyle. It’s a time for much growth, an opportunity for learning ways to cope. It’s also a time of stress as students face day-to-day challenges away from family and other longstanding supports. For some, it is also a time when serious mental health issues, such as a first major depressive incident, may occur. Not surprisingly, national studies show increasing rates of emotional disturbance, depression, suicide and other significant mental health issues among college students. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students.
Faculty/Staff as Mentors
During their college years, students often distance themselves from their parents because of their need to form their own identity and be more independent. It is natural for them to seek connections with other adults or peers for advice, support or mentoring. As a result, you may find that conversations with students sometimes include topics more personal than academic. Students may initially seek you out to engage you in conversation within your expertise area. As you listen, the student may share more sensitive concerns such as substance use, personal relationship problems, moral dilemmas or mood disorders. You need to know where to refer students if these issues appear serious.
RECOGNIZING WARNING SIGNS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS
Recognizing warning signs does not require expertise! It does, however, require an awareness of what to look for.
ACADEMIC:
A dramatic drop in academic performance and/or GPA
Repeated requests for special consideration
Papers or journal entries that have recurring themes of hopelessness, despair,
rage, violence or death
Inappropriate disruption of the classroom
Persistent absence from class; missed appointments
Indications of disorientation such as disjointed or confused thinking
PHYSICAL/PSYCHOLOGICAL:
Sudden increase or decrease in weight
Unkempt or decreased interest in appearance
Obvious substance abuse, such as smell of alcohol, slurred speech, bloodshot eyes
Marked changes in concentration, motivation or energy level
Sudden withdrawal from interactions with faculty, administrators, staff or peers
Inappropriate or exaggerated behavior, aggressiveness, emotional outbursts, crying
Comments about excessive fear or panicky feelings
OTHER FACTORS TO CONSIDER:
Written or verbal statements that indicate despondency
Direct statements indicating family problems or personal losses such as the death of a
family member or a relationship break-up
References to harming oneself or others
Expressions of concern about a student by peers
Your own sense, however vague, that something is seriously amiss with the student
The greater the number of warning signs present, the greater the likelihood that
the student needs assistance.
DEPRESSION IS COMMON. SUICIDE IS LETHAL.
Clinical depression is a serious and prevalent disorder of the mood that is pervasive, impacting the mind and the body. It often begins in young adulthood, making college students particularly at risk. Depression raises the risk of suicide dramatically. Key symptoms to watch for are:
Extreme sadness, despair, helplessness, hopelessness
Loss of enjoyment when engaging in usually pleasurable activities
Increased social isolation and withdrawal
Inability to concentrate; not able to read or focus on lectures
Sleeplessness, fatigue, weight and appetite changes
Excessive irritability
STEPS IN MAKING A REFERRAL FOR A DISTRESSED(NON-SUICIDAL) STUDENT
Step 1 - Listening
As students share concerns, listen carefully and show interest.
Try to speak to the student in person if you receive an e-mail or voicemail that suggests
the student is in need of further assistance.
Limit criticism even if you think it is constructive.
Respect the student's values and beliefs.
Avoid offering advice; listening provides the student with a feeling that his or her concerns
have been understood.
Step 2 - Expressing Concern
Explain your concerns and your observations of specific behaviors.
Acknowledge that you understand the student might be going through a hard time and
that you would like to help.
Assure the student that seeking counseling is an indication of strength and maturity.
Step 3 - Making a Referral
Share your knowledge of the referral source. Cite personal experience or cases of other
students who have benefited from counseling.
In cases that do not involve concerns of suicide, provide the student with the name,
location and phone number of the Counseling Center.
Explain that counseling is confidential and that there is no charge for the first four sessions.
If a student prefers to see a counselor in town and does not know one, explain that you will
call the Counseling Center and obtain the names and potential charges for a counselor in
private practice.
Offer to call and make the appointment for the student. If the student wants your assistance,
call the Counseling Center secretary and convey to her whether you consider this a crisis
situation.
A few days later, privately talk with the student to show concern about how he/she is. Ask the
student if he/she did go for counseling and how it went. Respect the student's rights to reject
the referral suggestion or to think about it first - UNLESS there has been talk of suicide.
It is best for you to document your conference with the student, the reasons for your concern,
the actual referral and the student's receptivity.
Whether or not the student goes to the Counseling Center, feel free to consult with the "on-call"
counselor about your referral or any questions you have. Because of confidentiality counselors
will not be able to tell you if a student did come for counseling unless the student gives
permission to do so.
EMERGENCY SITUATIONS
GET HELP IMMEDIATELY
CALL THE COUNSELING CENTER at 247-7212 during business hours, or bring the student to the
Counseling Center (260 Noble Hall) and describe the crisis.
It is a crisis if the student:
Expresses imminent suicidal thoughts and/or a plan
Expresses imminent homicidal thoughts
Loses emotional control severely
Shows gross impairment in thinking ability
Exhibits bizarre or unusual behavior
Experienced recent domestic or sexual assault
CALL THE POLICE 9-911
When there is imminent life-threatening or violent behavior to self or others
During after-hours emergencies
REFERRAL OF A POSSIBLE SUICIDAL STUDENT TO THE COUNSELING CENTER
Frequently, depressed students who are considering suicide either mention their despair to someone they respect, write about their thoughts or begin to act differently. Faculty, staff and friends are encouraged to listen carefully to upset students (whether comments are verbal or written) and note changes in behavior. We hope that you will talk with these students, let them know that you care, and recommend they go to the Counseling Center. Some courts are assigning responsibility and liability to colleges when it can be proven that a college employee had knowledge that a student might be in a potentially dangerous situation and did not take action to get the student help.
Faculty, staff and students are asked to call the Counseling Center and consult with the "on call" counselor when they encounter a potentially suicidal student. Please let the Counseling Center's secretary know you need to consult about a potential crisis and how serious the situation may be. The "on call" counselor will evaluate with you how to best approach the case. It is hoped that the individual calling will be able to encourage the student to voluntarily come to the Counseling Center for an assessment or counseling. If the student is not willing to voluntarily come for an assessment and the situation seems potentially dangerous, then it is possible that the "on call" counselor might decide on any of the following actions:
The "on call" counselor may need to consult with other individuals on campus such as the
Counseling Center Director, the Coordinator for Judicial Affairs, the Director of Residence Life
and the Vice President for Student Affairs.
The student may be mandated by the Vice President for Student Affairs to come for an
assessment and to follow the recommendations of the counselor.
A family member may be called.
The student may be transported to Mercy Medical Center to be evaluated by Southwest
Colorado Mental Health Center, Inc.
Counseling Center
Fort Lewis College
260 Noble Hall
1000 Rim Drive
Durango, CO 81301
(970) 247-7212
www.fortlewis.edu
Prospective Students
Student Services & Policies
Counseling Center
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