Mild to Moderate Signs of Distress
As someone who interacts regularly with students, you may pick up on cues that indicate a student could be in distress.
Mild to Moderate Signs of Distress May Include:
- Consistent grade problems or
Mild to Moderate Signs of Distress
As someone who interacts regularly with students, you may pick up on cues that indicate a student could be in distress.
Mild to Moderate Signs of Distress May Include:
- Consistent grade problems or changes from good to poor grades
- Excessive absences, especially if a change from the norm
- Changed pattern of interaction with you or class: avoiding participation, excessive anxiety when called upon, too aggressive
- Depressed, lethargic demeanor
- Dramatic weight loss
- Very rapid speech or activity
- Change in appearance, dress, or hygiene
- Excessive sleepiness
- Repeated requests for special attention
- Tearfulness or anxiety when talking with you
- Verbal reports of hopelessness or helplessness
- Sudden onset of behavior that appears odd, abnormal, and/or inappropriate
- Direct communication to you of a problem: e.g. “I am having a tough time….”
- Your own subjective sense that you are providing more personal-type counseling than academic counseling and/or you feel burdened by the student’s problems or demands for help
How to Refer a Student to Counseling
- Share with the student that you are concerned, give your observations and/or the student’s own report.
- Inform the student that you think s/he could benefit from speaking to a counselor. Assure the student that the counselors work with students on all kinds of problems, and none 