Georgia Tech Counseling Center - a Division of Student Affairs
Assisting the Distressed Student:
A Resource Guide for Georgia Tech Faculty and Staff
As a member of the faculty or staff here at Georgia Tech, you are constantly interacting with students. At times you may encounter students who are in crisis situations or who are under inordinate amounts of stress. You are more likely to see these students around mid-term and final exam periods.
WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR?
How do you know if someone is just going through a rough time or has real problems? Either way, a gesture of concern on your part might be helpful. "Going through a rough time" is a legitimate reason to seek counseling. There are also some clear signs that a person may need professional help. These include:
Moodiness: Feelings of helplessness, depression, social isolation and withdrawal. Suicidal thoughts may be indicated by some seemingly nonchalant statement like, "it just doesn't seem worth it anymore."
Problems with School: Poor classroom performance or erratic attendance. These may signal a deeper, non-academic problem, especially if it is inconsistent with the student's previous record.
Inability to Concentrate, Constant Worrying or Anxiety: Being easily distracted, fidgety, shaky; having memory distortions or lapses, having trouble sleeping.
Anti-Social Behavior: Verbal or physical aggression, being "out of control", difficulty communi-cating or relating to others, demanding so much of your time and attention that you feel un-comfortable or irritated.
Change in Physical Appearance, Mood or Behavior: These include sudden weight gain or loss, loss of interest in physical appearance or schoolwork, and mood changes, including a sudden lifting of depression.
Alcohol or Other Drug Abuse: Indications of excessive drinking, drug abuse or drug dependence.
WHEN DO YOU REFER?
If you notice that a student has one or more of these warning signs, you can show your concern and suggest a private meeting to explore the nature of the student's difficulties. For example, you might want to explore whether poor classroom performance is the result of academic difficulties, personal problems or some other situation. When a student's behavior is clearly disrupting the classroom process, the student needs to be advised that his/her behavior is unacceptable. Sometimes simply asking the person to change the behavior is sufficient. In some cases the behavior may warrant disciplinary action. (The office of the Dean of Students should be consulted in such cases.) If a student's behavior suggests physical threat or potential physical danger, the campus police should be contacted. They will send an officer who will respond in a calm, non-threatening manner. You can call the Counseling Center if you are unsure of which action to take.
Aside from the signals that may suggest the need for counseling, there are other guidelines, which may indicate the need for referral. Refer a student when:
* The problem or request for information is beyond your skill and training, or
you feel that for some reason you cannot work with the student or feel uncomfortable doing so.
HOW DO YOU REFER?
When you have determined that a student might benefit from professional counseling it is best to be concise and straightforward in stating your concerns. It is helpful to use "I" statements rather than "you" statements. For example, rather than saying "You seem to have a problem", instead say "I am concerned about you for these reasons ___." Tell the student why you think counseling would be helpful and make it clear that this recommendation represents your best judgment based on the student's behavior. You might also want to tell him/her a few facts about the Counseling Center. For instance, the Counseling Center is located in the Student Services Building; all services are free to enrolled students; all discussions are confidential except when students present a danger to themselves or others.
Except in emergencies we respect the student's right to choose or refuse counseling. If the student is skeptical or reluctant simply express your acceptance of those feelings so that your own relationship with the student is not jeopardized. Give the student an opportunity to consider other alternatives by suggesting that he/she might need some time to think it over. If the student emphatically says "no" then accept the decision.
If the student agrees to the referral you can offer to help the student call to set up an interview. Students requiring immediate assistance because of crisis situations are seen on an emergency basis. Finally, you should follow up with the student at a later date to show your continued interest even if he/she did not accept your attempted referral.
In emergency situations involving students who are unwilling or unable to seek help on their own, you may call the Counseling Center. The Office of the Dean of Students, or the campus police.
WHAT ABOUT THE CULTURALLY DIFFERENT STUDENT?
The culturally different student may be: (a) the American student who is bicultural and sees him/herself as an ethnic minority, (b) the International student who is studying for a degree and may return to his/her home nation, or (c) the immigrant who is relatively new to the United States and remains culturally identified with his/her birth nationality. Students who are culturally different may feel isolated in the university setting. They often believe that they must handle personal problems on their own and may wait until their distress is acute before seeking assistance.
Because of cultural masking and our own inexperience and/or discomfort with people who are different, the initial assessment of distress is often difficult. For the most part, problems described in this brochure are also discernible in the culturally different population. However, difficulty in assessing emotional distress in the culturally different individual is compounded by differences in cultural norms of behavior, emotional expression, sense of privacy and personal discomfort with mainstream American culture. If you encounter a culturally different individual who may be experiencing distress, it is important to make some contact with him/her and express your concerns, just as you would with any other student. Although it would be helpful to be knowledgeable about the person's own culture, it is much better to reach out than to hold back for fear of violating cultural rules or boundaries. If the student does not accept your offer of help, you might want to suggest talking with someone else on campus, possibly someone who may be knowledgeable about the students' background. Remember to reach out to this person since he/she may find it difficult to seek assistance from you.
REFERRAL AGENCIES
There are a number of campus agencies that can assist students. The following are the telephone numbers of these agencies:
1.Campus Police …….(404) 894-2500
2.Counseling Center….(404) 894-2575
3.Health Center.……...(404) 894-2584
4.Dean of Students …..(404) 894-6367