Student Distress

As a faculty or staff member interacting with students, you are in an excellent position to recognize behavior changes that characterize the emotionally troubled student. A student’s behavior, especially if it is inconsistent with your previous observations, could well constitute an attempt to draw attention to their plight: “a cry for help.” Your ability to recognize the signs of emotional distress and your courage to acknowledge your concerns directly to the student, are often noted by students as the most significant factor in their successful problem resolution. When considering the signs for online students, use your knowledge of whatever interactions you have with students, knowing that you cannot observe everything due to the nature of online classrooms. When in doubt, please consult with Counseling and Wellness staff regarding students of concern. Below is a list of signs that may indicate that a student is in distress.

Academic Signs:

• Significant shift in quality of work
• Missed assignments or appointments
• Repeated absence from class, exams, and other activities
• Continual requests for unusual accommodations (late papers, extensions, postponed exams, etc.)
• Essays or papers that expresses hopelessness, social isolation, rage, or despair
• Lack of engagement in participation-oriented classes
• Inappropriate disruptions or monopolizing classroom time

Physical or Psychological Signs:

• Excessive anxiety or panic
• Apathy, lack of energy, a change in sleeping or eating habits, or dramatic weight gain or loss
• Marked changes in personal hygiene, work habits, or social behavior
• Mood elevation
• Isolation or withdrawal
• Overtly suicidal thoughts, such as referring to suicide as a current option
• Giving away treasured personal possessions
• Increased irritability or aggressive behavior
• Bizarre thinking, seemingly at odds with the reality of the situation (such as paranoia)
• Excessive use of alcohol or other drugs

Other Factors to Consider:

• Direct statements indicating family problems, personal losses such as death of a family member or the break-up of a relationship
• Expressions of concern about a student by peers
• Written note or verbal statement that has a sense of hopelessness or finality
• Your sense, however vague, that something is seriously amiss

Taking the step to assist a student can save a life (or many lives). An individual who is distressed often wants help but doesn’t know how to ask. You can begin the process by expressing your concern in a caring, nonjudgmental way. By offering assistance, you can play an essential role in maintaining the health and wellness of our students in their pursuit of academic excellence.

• Find a private, comfortable place/time to talk. Give the student your undivided attention. It is possible that just a few minutes of effective listening on your part may be enough to help the student feel comfortable about what to do next. Ask if the student has ever talked about this problem with anyone else, including a counselor. Try to get an accurate understanding of the issues, and, if appropriate, encourage the student to talk about the situation with a professional.
• In your own words, express your concern using statements like, “I’m concerned that…”.
• Ask open-ended questions. The student may choose not to answer, but may feel relieved to know you are trying to understand.
• Don’t feel compelled to find a solution. Often, listening is enough.
• Suggest that the student can get more help if needed.
• Don’t hesitate to ask for support from the the Counseling and Wellness staff.

Please encourage the student to utilize the Counseling and Wellness Services. As a follow up, please use this form to submit a referral:

Please use this form to submit a referral. For any questions please contact 

A crisis is a situation in which an individual’s usual style of coping is no longer effective, and the emotional or physiological response begins to escalate. As emotions intensify, coping becomes less effective, until the person becomes disoriented, nonfunctional, or attempts to harm themselves or others. If a student is in a serious mental health crisis, you might see or hear the following signs:

• Suicidal statements or suicide attempts
• Written or verbal violence or acting out violently
• Destruction of property or other criminal acts
• Extreme anxiety resulting in panic reactions
• Inability to communicate (e.g., garbled or slurred speech, disjointed thoughts)
• Loss of contact with reality (e.g., seeing or hearing things that aren’t there, expressing beliefs or actions at odds with reality)
• Highly disruptive behavior (e.g., hostility, aggression, violence)

If you believe there may be imminent danger of harm to a student or the community, as evidenced by these crisis symptoms, get help immediately: Call 911.If you need help in assessing the situation during business hours, contact Counseling and Wellness at or the Dean of Students/CARE Team at . If you need help in assessing the situation outside business hours, call the Community Mental Health Crisis Line at 211.