HELPING STUDENTS IN DISTRESS
While the college experience is often referred to as the
“best years” of one’s life, it may also be one of
the most stressful times. While most students cope successfully with
the many demands of college life, for some the pressures can become
unmanageable and overwhelming. Students may feel alone, helpless, isolated,
and hopeless. These feelings can easily disrupt academic performance
or personal relationships, and may result in harmful behaviors such
as substance abuse and attempts at suicide.
Counselors are not typically the first people that students turn to
when they have problems. Students are in almost daily contact with faculty
and staff members, advisors, friends, resident assistants, and they
naturally confide in those closest to them when they are having difficulties.
As a result, these individuals are in an excellent position to identify
students in emotional distress, provide assistance, and refer them to
counseling when they appear to have more serious concerns. Your expression
of interest and concern may be critical in helping a student re-establish
their emotional equilibrium necessary to get back on track.
The Counseling Center provides consultation for university students,
faculty members, and staff who are concerned about the unusual, problematic,
or potentially harmful behavior of students. In person or over the phone,
a counselor will explore your concerns and help you identify options
or develop ideas for dealing with a situation regarding a student. If
circumstances warrant, we'll help you with the process of getting
help for the student, either at the Counseling Center, or another more
suitable resource. Below is a menu of items which may answer or address
various concerns you may have about recognizing and/or helping a student
in distress:
WHEN A STUDENT NEEDS
A COUNSELING REFERRAL
A referral for counseling should be considered when
you believe a student's problems go beyond your own experience and
expertise, or when you feel uncomfortable helping a student with some
issue. A referral may be made either because of the way the student's
problems are interfering with his or her academic work or with your
teaching, or because observation of the student's personal behavior
raises concerns apart from his or her academic work.
Recognizable indicators:
- Marked decline in quality of course work, class participation, quality of papers or test results; increased absence from class, or failure to turn in work.
- Prolonged depression suggested by a sad demeanor, apathy, weight loss, (appearance of lack of sleep) tearfulness.
- Nervousness, agitation, excessive worry; irritability, aggressiveness, non-stop talking.
- Bizarre, strange behavior or speech.
- Violent outbursts.
- Extreme dependency on faculty or staff, including spending much of his or her time visiting during office hours or other times.
- Marked changes in personal hygiene.
- Signs of excessive alcohol or drug use.
- Binging or purging of food.
- Withdrawal from friends or social isolation.
- Physical or sexual assault.
- Talk of suicide, either directly or indirectly, such as, "I won't be around to take that exam anyway," or "I'm not worried about getting a job; I won't need one."
- Uncharacteristic comments in a student's paper that arouse concern.
Each student experiences stress somewhat differently, and many disturbances in the 17- to 22-year old age group are relatively transient. However, you may become alarmed by even brief changes which are extreme or by significant changes that continue for some time. If there is doubt about the seriousness of the problem, consult a counseling center staff member about how to evaluate the situation and follow the most appropriate steps.
One way of introducing the topic of a counseling referral to a student is to summarize to him or her what you understand to be the problem. For example, "You sound very depressed about your relationship problems. I have found that other students who felt that way have been helped by talking to a professional, someone at the counseling center. How would you feel about that?"
In speaking to the student about counseling, it is important to keep in mind some of the negative reactions a student may have to the idea and be ready to discuss them.
You can explain to the student that counseling is not just for "crazy" people (most clients have normal "problems in living") nor does it encourage dependency (counseling is time-limited on campus). Counseling does provide a chance to explore feelings and solve problems with the help of an objective, sensitive, concerned listener, who is professionally trained.
Once the student has agreed that counseling might be useful, there are several possible steps to take, depending on the student's attitude and the urgency of the situation.
- Give the student information
about the counseling center and urge him or her to call.
- Offer to let the student call
from your office right then, so that a public commitment will be
made.
- Accompany the student yourself to make sure he or she arrives at the counseling center, and provide the center with any necessary information. The counseling center staff will appreciate your calling ahead if the student is being brought over or sent directly so that plans can be made to have a counselor available.
Although most students are ambivalent about counseling, it is important that the student really wants help. Coercing a student to go to counseling is not likely to have positive results in the long run. Generally, unless there is some immediate concern about the welfare of the student, it is better to try to maintain your relationship with the student rather than to force him or her to go to the counseling center. The idea can be brought up again later.
Making an appointment at the Counseling Center is simple. If a student is visiting the Counseling Center for the first time, he/she will be scheduled to meet with a counselor for an initial assessment. Students may call the Counseling Center at 407-823-2811 to schedule an appointment in advance. In addition, a limited number of same day appointments are available. In an emergency, as defined either by you or the student, it is recommended that the student be seen on the same day.
The purpose of the initial interview assessment is to learn what is troubling the student and to assess appropriate services for those issues. (e.g., individual or group counseling at the center or referral to a more appropriate service on campus or in the community).
If ongoing counseling is appropriate, regular appointments will be scheduled for 45 to 50 minutes. At busy times of the year, it may be two weeks or so before regular appointments begin, but students are encouraged to let the office know if they feel too distressed to wait, and they will receive priority scheduling.
It is important for members of the campus community
to understand that the interviews conducted with students at the Counseling
Center are confidential. Information or content of those sessions
cannot be released or discussed without the student’s written
permission. The Center staff adheres very strictly to ethical and
legal parameters of Confidentiality.
If a faculty or staff member is interested in knowing whether a student
has visited or made contact with the center, he/she should ask that
student directly (since students are not bound by the same obligation
of confidentiality that counselors/psychologists are obliged to keep).
In some instances, a student may want the Counseling Center to share
certain information with faculty, staff, or a parent. This can be
done if the student provides written authorization that specifies
the purpose and content of such a disclosure.
In some cases, students who seek your help or arouse your concern may work more effectively with you rather than being referred to counseling. Your willingness to listen may be very important to those students. You may also choose to work with the student on improving his or her academic work without focusing on the psychological issues that underlie the behavior. A counselor at the counseling center can be consulted on how to best handle either of these approaches or how to make a referral.
If an emergency arises during the day, the Counseling
Center provides crisis
Intervention services during the hours of 8:00am to 5:00pm (Monday
through Friday). If a student needs to be seen for an emergency appointment,
call our office (407-823-2811) or simply walk into the center. Be
sure that someone informs the receptionist that the student is experiencing
a crisis, and we will make every effort to respond to your situation
as quickly as possible.
In case of an emergency, crisis situation, or suicidal student, get professional help immediately.
IMPORTANT CONTACTS
| Emergency: | 911 |
| UCF Police: | 823-5555 |
| Victim Services: | 823-6069 |
| Health Center: | 823-2701 |
| Counseling Center: | 823-2811 |
For psychological emergencies in the evening or on weekends, there are several options:
LifeLine Hotline (407-425-2624) is a 24-hour crisis hotline service available to students. Counselors who staff the hotline will help you manage a crisis situation.
Sexual Trauma Recovery Center (407-843-HELP) is a 24-hour crisis hotline for victims of sexual assault.
Lakeside Alternatives (407-875-3700), a public psychiatric hospital located in Orange County, is available to students requiring inpatient hospitalization.
It is important for members of the campus community
to understand that the interviews conducted with students at the Counseling
Center are confidential. Information or content of those sessions
cannot be released or discussed without the student’s written
permission. The Counseling Center staff adheres very strictly to ethical
and legal parameters of Confidentiality.
If a faculty or staff member is interested in knowing whether a student
has visited or made contact with the center, they should ask that
student directly (since students are not bound by the same obligation
of confidentiality that counselors/psychologists are obliged to keep).
In some instances, a student may want the Counseling Center to share
certain information with faculty, staff, or a parent. This can be
done if the student provides written authorization that specifies
the purpose and content of such a disclosure.
The Center is composed of a professional staff of psychologists, mental health counselors, and graduate interns. There is no fee for services, and strict confidentiality is maintained in accordance with ethical standards and the law. We offer services in an atmosphere that is welcoming and comfortable for all students regardless of race, gender, ethnic background, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or physical status.
We offer the following services:
- Consultation services for students, faculty, and staff
- Crisis intervention
- Individual counseling
- Couples/conjoint counseling
- Group counseling
- Career counseling
Note:
We do not provide counseling services to UCF faculty and staff. If you are interested in receiving ongoing services for yourself, please call Horizon Health at (407)788-8822 or (800)272-7252.
June 12, 2008 12:32 PM
