Resources for Faculty/Staff

Dealing with Students in Distress: A Guide for Faculty, Staff and Administrators

As faculty and staff, you come into contact with many students on a daily basis. You are on the "front lines" and, as such, are in an excellent position to observe students, identify those who may be in emotional distress, and offer assistance. While your concern and support may often be enough to help the student, there will be times when you may feel a referral for additional professional assistance is warranted. This portion of our website is designed to acquaint you with the services of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), to assist you in helping students in distress, and to guide you in making referrals to helping professionals.

Behavioral changes and stressful events in student's lives which may warrant counseling are outlined in "When Counseling May Be Needed," while subsequent sections address specific types of emotional concerns or psychological problems that you my encounter when working with students (providing suggestions for dealing with specific types of emotional problems). It is critical to bear in mind that while you may be a key source of support for a student, you can't be expected to do it all. When you feel particularly concerned about a distressed student, please feel free to consult with Counseling Center staff or the Dean of Students Office (the form below may be submitted after hours as well). Note that walk-in services are available at the Counseling Center from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (call CAPS at 509-359-2366 for more information).

Crisis Checklist
Student Concern/Incident Report Form (not for imminent risk)
Faculty and Staff Resource Guide

Topics

Helping Students
When Counseling May Be Needed
Listening Skills
Defusing Anger in Others
The Depressed Student
The Suicidal Student
The Aggressive Student
The Anxious Student
The Demanding Student
The Suspicious Student
The Student In Poor Contact With Reality
The Violent or Physically Destructive Student
The Substance Abusing Student