Helping a Student

This page is intended to assist faculty and staff in recognizing behaviors that might indicate when someone is in distress, and to help in responding in a compassionate manner to facilitate a connection with the Counseling Center or other services, when necessary.

Recognizing students in emotional distress

At one time or another, everyone feels depressed or upset. But we can identify three general levels of distress which, when present over a period of time, suggest that the problems the person is dealing with are more than "normal" ones. 

Recognizing mild distress, moderate distress, or severe distress 

Assisting students in different levels of distress

Even though a student asks for help with a problem and you are willing to help, there are circumstances that may indicate that you should refer a student to another resource. 

What can you do to assist students in mild or moderate distress, or severe distress?

How to make a Referral 

Information For:

current students
faculty and staff		 parents
alumni		 high school students
admitted students