Some Signs and Symptoms of a Student in Distress:
Signs of a distressed student generally include extreme emotions, strange behaviors, threatening behavior, and significant changes in usual functioning.
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- Quality of academic work markedly inconsistent with previous work.
- Repeated requests for special consideration, such as incompletes.
- Infrequent class attendance with little or no work completed.
- Pattern of low grades.
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- Marked changes in personal hygiene or other forms of self-care.
- Disheveled or fatigued appearance.
- Listlessness, lack of energy.
- Dramatic changes in weight.
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- Withdrawal from peers, friends and family.
- Avoidance of social interaction in general.
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4. Strange Behaviors and Impaired Thinking
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- Bizarre or strange behaviors that are obviously inappropriate to the situation.
- Incoherent speech.
- Delusional thinking, which involves beliefs that are outside of reality.
- Agitation, noticeable restlessness.
- Unusual difficulties making a decision.
- Other behaviors not typical of the student.
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- Intense anxiety.
- Irritability and anger.
- Depressed mood.
- Frequent tearfulness and crying spells.
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6. Threatening Statements and Behaviors
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- Threats to harm self or others.
- Threatening behaviors.
- Disruptive behaviors.
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- Signs of excessive alcohol or drug use.
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Guidelines for Intervention:
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There is no one right formula to follow when responding to a distressed student. What is most important is to approach the student in a calm, gentle manner that conveys genuine concern and a sincere desire to understand and assist. Keep in mind that active listening and being there for the student is most effective in assisting the student. Another key aspect of intervening is to determine how urgent the situation seems to be. The more apparently life-threatening the situation, the more rapidly one needs to intervene in bringing in appropriate resources. If the student appears seriously disoriented or incoherent or if the situation appears imminently life-threatening, the best action to take is to call 911 immediately and call the UCC to assist with stabilizing the student.
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The following guidelines apply when the situation does not appear to be imminently life-threatening:
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- Request to speak with the student privately.
- Describe the behaviors or signs that concern you.
- Listen carefully, avoiding interruptions and asking too many questions.
- Show concern and interest.
- Repeat back the essence of what the student has told you.
- Avoid criticizing or sounding judgmental.
- Refrain from telling the student what to do.
- Assist in identifying options available to the student, including relevant resources available to the student.
- Consider the University Counseling Center (UCC) as a resource and discuss a referral with the student.
- If the student resists help and you are worried, contact UCC to discuss your concerns.
Maintain interpersonal boundaries appropriate to your relationship with the student. Extending oneself can be a gratifying experience when kept within realistic limits. Short of emergency situations, sometimes there is not much a concerned person can do if the distressed student is not receptive to assistance.
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