A student in distress might indicate a need for assistance with:
- Repeated requests for special consideration, extensions, etc.
- Unusual or exaggerated emotional responses
- Withdrawal from activities or friends
- Significant change in sleep or eating patterns
- Declining academic performance
- Excessive absences, especially if attendance was previously consistent
- Perfectionism, procrastination, excessive worrying
- Markedly changed patterns of interaction (avoiding participation or dominating discussion)
These signs might indicate a student in severe distress:
- Depressed mood
- Marked changes in personal hygiene; swollen, red eyes; falling asleep in class; excessively active and talkative
- Inability to communicate
- Garbled, slurred, disjointed or incoherent speech
- Loss of contact with reality
- Seeing/hearing things that do not exist
- Suicidal thoughts or intentions
- Overtly discussing, joking or hinting that suicide is a current and viable option
- Highly disruptive behavior
- Homicidal threats
- Hostile, threatening or violent behavior
How to share your concern with a student
If you have a concern, talk to the student first. The student may have an explanation for the behavior or may ask for assistance.
- Talk to the student in private when both of you have time
- Give the student undivided attention
- Express your concerns in behavioral terms
- Share an observation “I’ve noticed you’ve been acting differently than you usually do and I’m concerned”
- Listen in a non-judgmental, non-threatening way
- Communicate your understanding by repeating back the core of what the student has said
- Avoid judging, evaluating, or criticizing
- Respect the student’s value system, even if you disagree
When to make a referral
You are encouraged to submit a concern form to make a referral if students:
- Do not respond appropriately when you share your concern
- Exhibit erratic or sudden changes in classroom performance
- Exhibit uncharacteristic behavioral, mood, attitude or appearance changes
- Are uncharacteristically inattentive, unresponsive, angry, argumentative or aggressive
- Disclose mental health concerns and indicate a need for assistance
- Exhibit behavior that is getting worse
You may also choose to make a referral when you:
- Feel overwhelmed or unsure of how to proceed
- Need to talk with someone about your observations or concerns
How to encourage students to seek assistance
- Let students know that it is not necessary to know exactly what is wrong in order to seek assistance
- Assure students that seeking help does not mean their problems are unusual or extremely serious
- Show students how they can seek assistance by using the concern form to refer themselves