Students in Emotional Distress
Recognizing and
Dealing with Students in Emotional Distress
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Tips for Recognizing Troubled Students
- What can you do?
- Dealing with Level 3
- Same Day Crisis Services
- Contact Information
Introduction
College students typically encounter a great deal of
stress (e.g. academic, social, family, work, financial) during their
educational experiences. While
most students can cope successfully with the demands of college, for some,
the pressures can feel overwhelming and difficult to manage.
Students experiencing difficulty have a number of resources available
to them. These include close
friends, family, and others they see on a regular basis.
As members of the
Your willingness to respond to students in distress will, of course, be influenced by your own personal style and your own philosophy about the limits of responsibility in assisting students. As well, a student’s openness to assistance, and such factors as class size, length and depth of your relationship, and the location of the contact, all have an impact on the type of interaction you can have with a student.
Counselling Services would like to assist you in recognizing and dealing with students in emotional distress. The following information may offer you some specific ideas about what you can do when faced with a student who is in distress. Of course, this information is not intended to transform you into a professional counsellor. However, the following guidelines, your knowledge of the services available, and your awareness of your personal attributes can help you become more comfortable with determining when and how you wish to get involved with students.
Tips for Recognizing Troubled Students
At one time or another, everyone feels depressed, frustrated or upset. This is normal. There are three general levels of distress however, which, when present over a period of time, suggest that the problems a person is facing, or how they are coping with these problems, go beyond what may be considered manageable.
What Can You Do?
Dealing with Levels 1 and 2 Behavior
In dealing with a student who shows Level 1 or Level 2 behavior, you have several choices. (1) You can choose to not deal with it at all; (2) Deal directly with the request or disruptive behavior in a way that limits your interaction to the classroom issue; or (3) You can deal with the situation on a more personal level.
If you choose to deal with a situation more personally, or if a student seeks you out for help with personal problems, here are some suggestions which might make the opportunity more comfortable for you and more helpful for the student:
- Talk to the student in private when both of you have time and are not rushed or preoccupied. 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 confident about what to do next.
- If you have initiated the contact, express your concern in behavioral, nonjudgmental terms (e.g. “I’ve noticed you’ve been absent quite a bit lately and I’m concerned” rather than “Where have you been lately? Goofing off again?”)
- Listen to the student’s thoughts and feelings in a sensitive non-threatening way. Communicate that you are listening and understanding by repeating back the essence of what the student has told you. Allow the student to talk.
- Avoid judging, evaluating, criticizing even if the student asks your opinion. Responding in these ways will likely close the student off from you and from getting the help needed. It is important to show respect for the student’s value system, even if you don’t agree with it.
When Should You Make a Referral to Counselling Services?
Even though a student asks for help with a problem and you are willing to help, there are circumstances which may indicate that you should suggest that the student access other resources. Some examples of this are:
- The problem is more serious than you feel comfortable or capable of dealing with
- You are extremely busy or are experiencing stress in your own life and are unable or unwilling to handle the student's needs
- You have talked to the student and helped as much as you can but further assistance is needed
- You think that your personal feelings about the student would interfere with your ability to be helpful
- The student admits there is a problem but does not want to talk to you about it
- The student asks for information or assistance which you are unable to provide
In these types of situations, making a referral to counselling services would be in the best interests of both you and the student.
How Do I Make a Referral?
It is often reassuring to a student to hear that you respect their willingness to talk to you and that you want to support them in getting the assistance that they need. Because you are not expected to “counsel” the student it is usually best to be frank about the limits of your ability to assist them – limits of time, energy, training, objectivity. Generally, students will understand and appreciate this and will be open to hearing about Counselling Services. Others, however, may be more reluctant to accept a referral. Here are some tips on how to make a referral:
- Acknowledge and discuss the student's fears and concerns about seeking help
- Remind the student that counselling sessions are strictly confidential
- Remind the student that counselling at RRC is free
- Point out that a situation does not have to reach crisis proportions for him/her to benefit from professional help
- Emphasize that, although some people believe that seeking counselling is an admission of weakness and failure, in fact it often takes considerable courage to face oneself and acknowledge one's limitations
- Assure the student that seeking help doesn’t necessarily mean that he/she has serious problems
- Normalize going for help by telling the him/her that it is not unusual for college students to seek help for issues such as depression or anxiety, low energy and motivation, difficulties in relationships, or concerns about future goals or plans
- Offer to accompany the student to the counselling office
Also, try to prepare the student for what he/she might expect if they take your suggestion. Tell the student what you know about Counselling Services.
Counselling Services
Professional and confidential counselling is provided free of charge in a private setting. All counselling services are voluntary. RRC counsellors work sensitively and respectfully with students to assist them to identify and resolve their personal problems or concerns. Academic Counselling is also provided to students who are experiencing difficulties with their studies. When necessary, counsellors will refer students to other services or agencies in the community.
Because our services are voluntary students should make their own appointments if possible. They can visit or phone Counselling Services at Notre Dame, Princess Street or the Main St. Campuses. You can offer the use of your phone for the student to call and make an appointment. Or, if the student wishes you to do so, make the call for the student while he/she is with you. Our Administrative Assistant will arrange for the student to meet with a counsellor as soon as possible; this usually occurs within a few days. If counselling services assesses the situation to be a crisis, we will assist them on the same day. (Please see Same Day Crisis Services below)
Additional Consultation
If you have chosen to initiate a conversation with a student, you may still have some questions about how best to handle the situation. Please contact the Coordinator of Counselling Services or a counsellor if you would like assistance with:
- Assessing the situation, its seriousness, and the potential for referral.
- Learning about resources, both on and off campus, so you can suggest the most appropriate help available when talking with a student.
- Finding the best way to make a referral, if appropriate.
- Clarifying your own feelings about the student and consider ways you can be most effective.
Dealing with Level 3 Behaviors
In some ways, Level 3 behaviors are the easiest to identify because they can be the most obvious. If you encounter students that fit level 3 behaviors, try to stay as calm as possible. Remember, you always stand a better chance of calming down a student if you remain calm yourself. If any of these behaviors occur in the classroom, request that the student leave with you so that you may speak with them privately. Be respectful, clear and concrete in the words that you use.
If the student’s behavior continues to be volatile or strange, try to find someone to stay with student while you call the appropriate campus resource.
If a student is expressing a direct threat to themselves or others, or is acting in a bizarre, highly irrational or disruptive way, call Security Services. The Security Office is open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, however Security staff are on duty 24 hours a day.
If the student is in great emotional distress and refers to suicide, Counselling Services should be called for an emergency consultation and Same Day Crisis appointment.
Same-Day Crisis Services
The staff at Counselling and Disability Services is aware that emergencies requiring immediate attention can exist for students seeking our services. Because of the demand on our services, however, we are not able to see most students the same day they contact us. The following information has been prepared to help you or a student decide whether our Same-Day Crisis Services are a good fit.
Our Same-Day Crisis Services are designed to assist students who are confronting life-threatening circumstances, current or recent traumatic crises, and serious mental illness. Examples of such issues include:
- suicidal thoughts
- the need to be hospitalized
- thoughts about harming another person
- recent assault or abuse
- concern about your own safety
- knowledge of another person being abused or assaulted
- the safety of someone else
- hallucinations
- recent death of a loved one
- witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event
A counselor is available to meet with students in crisis when not being seen immediately could lead to serious consequences or seriously aggravate their existing condition.
If you believe that a situation a student is facing is a crisis that cannot wait for a regularly scheduled appointment, please call Counselling Services to alert us that a student in crisis will be coming to our office, or accompany the student to our office. A counselor will meet with the student today to do a brief assessment and make recommendations as to how to proceed. If Same Day Crisis Services is not an accurate fit, but Counselling Services would be a benefit to the student, an appointment for the next available time can be made.
Contact Information
Security Services
Princess Street
Or call Security by using any of the
Safewalk Phones located
throughout the College Campuses.
Counselling Services
Notre Dame Campus
Office: D102
Hours:
Mon-Thurs 8 a.m. – 5
p.m.;
Fri 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Phone: 632-3966
Princess Street Campus
Office: P210
Hours:
Mon-Fri 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Phone: 949-8375
Main Street
Campus
Phone: 945-8774
Community Crisis Services
Klinic 24 hour Crisis Line: Phone 786-8686
Mobile Crisis Unit
This page has been provided by Counselling and
Disability Services, Red River College, D102-2055 Notre Dame Avenue
Information updated 30 July 2010
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