Assisting students in distress
University faculty and staff are in a unique position to demonstrate compassion for students in distress.
Both undergraduate and graduate students may feel alone, isolated and even hopeless when faced with academic and life challenges. These feelings can easily disrupt academic performance and may lead to difficulties coping and other serious consequences.
You may be the first person to SEE SOMETHING distressing in your students since you have frequent and prolonged contact with them.
SAY SOMETHING.
Students exhibiting troubling behaviors in your presence are likely having difficulties in various settings including the classroom, with roommates, with family and even in social settings.
Trust your instincts and SAY SOMETHING if a student leaves you feeling worried, alarmed, or threatened!
DO SOMETHING.
Sometimes students cannot or will not turn to family or friends. DO SOMETHING! Your expression of concern may be a critical factor in saving a student's academic career or even their life.
Please use the information below to help you recognize symptoms of student distress and identify appropriate referrals to campus resources.
View our guide to assisting students in distress
If you believe you cannot allow the student to leave your presence without immediate risk of self-harm, tell the student. Then, call 911.
- Family problems
- Financial difficulties
- Relationship issues
- Academic difficulties
- History of emotional disturbances (e.g., depression, alcohol, drug abuse, eating disorder, anxiety, suicide attempts)
- Traumatic family event(s) such as recent separation or divorce of parents, serious illness or death of family member, physical, emotional, or sexual abuse at home
- Recent loss of an important person (either by death or by separation/break-up)
- Recent loss of esteem
- Previous period of poor functioning
- Social isolation, withdrawal, lethargy
- Inability to focus on a specific topic in a conversation or activity
- Disorganized thinking and speech, feelings that are inappropriate to the situation, lack of affect, or other evidence that student is “out of touch with reality”
- Expression of feelings of persecution, strong mistrust of others
- Violent outbursts
- Signs of excessive alcohol or drug use
- Expressions of general unhappiness over a period of several weeks
- Frequent class absence or “disappearance” over extended periods
- Gain or loss of significant amounts of weight
- Abrupt change in manner, style, or personal hygiene
- Increasing dependence on you (by making excessive appointments, hanging around your office or after class) or others