While we know the primary role of faculty is to share your knowledge and expertise with students, we also know that you are often the people students turn to when they are struggling. That gives you a unique opportunity to support student mental health and create a culture of care on campus.
Syllabus Statement for Faculty
When to Refer a Student
For many students, going to college is a satisfying experience - new challenges, new friends, new ideas, but for others, it can be difficult and sometimes frightening. Some students feel alone and uncertain. Old solutions to new problems are not always working, and they need help finding alternatives. Sometimes this inability to adjust leads to problems beyond transitory frustration or unhappiness, and they need professional help.
Faculty, staff, parents, and other students provide the link between troubled students and Counseling Services.
If you have a friend, student, or know someone that you think might benefit from counseling there are different ways you can provide them with help. Depending on factors such as immediacy, severity, and parties involved, you should choose the appropriate steps to help others.
- Talk to the student in private.
- Listen carefully.
- Show concern and interest.
- Avoid criticizing or sounding judgmental.
- Repeat back the essence of what the student has told you.
- Involve yourself only as much as you feel comfortable. Extending oneself can be a gratifying experience when kept within realistic limits.
- If the student resists help and you are concerned, contact Counseling Services to talk about your concerns.
- Use Counseling Services as a resource and discuss how a Counselor can be helpful to the student.
The Referral Process
If you are concerned about a student but are uncertain about the appropriateness of a referral, feel free to call Counseling Services for a consultation.
If the situation is an emergency, call the office while the student is with you and state, "The student needs an appointment immediately."
The student can be walked down and be seen by a counselor as soon as one becomes available. The student will be seen as a walk-in consultation, which is a one time meeting with the counselor to help the client process their presenting concerns and identify coping skills to begin feeling better.