Information for Faculty and Staff who are concerned about a Student
Faculty /staff members are encouraged to contact a member of Counselling Services if they’re concerned about a student who is displaying “early warning signs” or causing problems in the classroom. Through an informal consultation, the counsellor may be able to suggest possible intervention strategies.
Please note: Counselling Services does not provide direct personal counselling for faculty and staff. Please see Human Resources for information on Employee and Family Assistance Programs available.
There may be times when you are concerned about a student. Those concerns may be a result of a direct communication with a student, or it may be due to behaviours that you are witnessing. A concerned faculty/staff member can often be the first line of contact for distressed students. You can play an important part of the student’s help-seeking behaviours by referring the student to Counselling Services.
Some possible early warning signs to watch for:- A change in the students’ behavior and/or appearance, e.g., more withdrawn, disheveled, boisterous, etc.
- Confusion, disorientation, erratic behavior, e.g., comments in class that don’t make sense, thoughts that are un-related to the class discussion, trouble locating the classroom, etc.
- Increased emotionality, e.g., crying in class or in your office, angry outbursts, frustration, etc.
- Drop in academic performance
If you are concerned about a student…- Ask to speak to them privately and tell them that you are concerned about them.
- Advise the student that there are free confidential counselling services available to them on campus.
- Help them make an appointment with a counsellor, either by calling the office with their permission (457-6567) or even walking them down to our office (Evaritus 218). Otherwise, provide them with our phone number and/or pamphlet on our service (please contact our office at 457-6567 to request Counselling Services pamphlets if interested).
- You may also discuss your concerns directly with a counsellor. If during regular office hours, please call Counselling Services at 457-6567 and ask to speak to a counsellor: if it is an emergency, please advise as such. You may also contact Health Services on campus at 457-6353.
- If a crisis occurs with a student after hours, please call Security at locals 6267 or 6497.
- If you can’t reach anyone at these numbers and you feel the crisis calls for immediate attention, you may call the Mental Health Mobile Crisis Team at 902-429-8167.