Helping Students in Distress

Counseling can be a valuable resource for students in distress, but the process is more effective if the student decides for her/him/themselves to get help. We don’t recommend pressuring anyone into counseling, and we don’t allow anyone, even parents, to make appointments for a student. A student’s contact with the counseling center is completely confidential.

Signs a Student is in Distress

• You’re offering more emotional support to a student than you feel comfortable or able, or you feel they’d benefit from talking to someone with professional training.
• The student seems excessively sad, anxious, or irritable.
• There’s a marked change in the student’s behavior. A typically strong and engaged student might start procrastinating, turning in poorly prepared work, missing class or meetings, isolating from friends, or avoiding class or group participation.
• You notice marked changes in a student’s appearance, such as deterioration in grooming or hygiene, or weight loss.
• It seems likely that use of alcohol or other substances may be interfering with a student’s performance or relationships.
• There’s a marked and persistent change in energy level. The student might seem listless, falling asleep frequently in class or meetings; or the student might seem to be on overdrive, with unusually accelerated speech and activity.
• The student’s behavior regularly interferes with the effective management of your class, program, or office.
• The student seems unusually dependent, helpless, or hopeless.
• The student’s thoughts, speech, or actions seem bizarre or unusual.

How to Talk to the Student

• Talk to the student in private.
• Inform the student of your concern in a straightforward, matter-of-fact manner. Give specific examples of the behavior patterns you’ve observed that lead you to feel concerned.
• Listen carefully.
• Avoid criticizing or sounding judgmental.
• Mention the Counseling Center as a resource for students who are dealing with significant stress or experiencing problems. Offer to walk the student to the counseling center.
• If the student is resistant to seeking help, listen to her/his/their concerns, correct misconceptions or look for alternatives, but don’t pressure students into counseling if they prefer not to take this step.
• Make sure the student knows how to make an appointment, or direct her/him/them to the Counseling Center Web site. Remember, you won’t be able to make an appointment for the student.

After a student makes the decision to come to counseling, we abide by our confidentiality statement.