Recognizing and Helping Students in Distress

Distressed vs. Distressing Students

It may be helpful to clarify the difference between students who are in emotional distress from those whose behavior is distressing to others. Students who are in distress are experiencing emotional pain, which may be generated by internal or external factors. A distressed student may appear highly distracted, publicly tearful, withdrawn, anxious, irritable, and hypersensitive, may be missing classes or may openly state they are having problems. Distressed students can certainly be referred to the Center and generally find counseling helpful in addressing their concerns.

Students who are distressing, on the other hand, are those who cause distress for other people (e.g., instructors, classmates, administrators, roommates), due to their inappropriate behavior. Examples of such behaviors include disruptive outbursts in class, inappropriate expressions of anger, threats of harm to self or others, etc. It is appropriate for faculty and/or staff to alert their department heads and/or the Dean of Students Office (860-297-2156) regarding these students if approaching them directly and expressing concern does not seem possible.

The most complicated situations involve students who are both distressed and distressing. Sometimes they may not be fully aware of how others perceive them or how their behavior impacts others. These students should also receive appropriate intervention through their academic department and/or the Dean of Students Office. The Counseling Center is available for consultations regarding the possible need for psychological intervention. These students should also be encouraged to seek counseling. When working with these challenging students it is important to seek consultation and to know your own limits. The Counseling Center can provide you with some helpful consultation.

When and How to Intervene

Students may reveal to you directly that they are emotionally distressed or you may simply notice that there have been changes in their behavior that indicate some distress. Depending on how you become aware of the problems, you may or may not choose to approach the student. This decision depends on such factors as what behaviors are concerning you, how troubled the student seems to be, your relationship with him or her, how approachable the student seems to be, as well as your personality style and feelings about intervening.

If you believe the student might be open to discussing her or his concerns with you, generally the best approach involves letting the student know that you’ve noticed that she/he seems upset lately, and you’re interested in helping him or her if they wish to talk to you about it. Asking a student if they have been struggling will not make them worse. Keep your comments "open-ended" rather than asking questions that can be answered with a simple "yes or no" response.

Be aware that some students may reject your efforts, may deny any troubles, and/or may feel intruded upon. Generally speaking, most students will feel appreciative of your interest and concern and your contact with them might be an important step toward their dealing with their problems. If you have questions or concerns about approaching a particular student, feel free to call the Counseling Center for help.

Responding to Students Who Confide in You

The most appropriate response to students who disclose their personal concerns to you is to:

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  Empathize with the feelings being expressed. Try to understand what the student is saying from his/her perspective (which does not mean you have to agree with that perspective). Be as genuinely supportive as feels appropriate to you.
  
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  Keep your own limits in mind; for example, don’t get more involved in the student’s life than is comfortable.
  
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  Except in cases where you may reasonably suspect that there is a potential for self-harm or danger to others, a student has the right to refuse treatment.
  
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  When you sense reluctance, encourage the use of the Counseling Center by suggesting that others have found it helpful, it’s free and easy to get an appointment and they may want to at least try going for one session.
  
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  Check back with the student to see if they are doing better, especially when they have declined the initial suggestion of treatment.
  

Remember, whenever you are in doubt, the therapists at the Counseling Center are available for consultation, which can be done over the telephone or in person. Feel free to call upon us with your concerns. You as faculty are a valuable referral resource and we want to work with you in any way we can.

Responding to Students in Emotional Distress

Responding to Anxiety

One of the most common problems facing college students is anxiety. Certainly the added pressures of being in a new environment, being away from home and the stress of wanting to do well in college can overwhelm some people. Anxiety disorders are among the most common or frequently occurring mental disorders. Typically, anxiety disorders involve disturbances in mood, thinking, behavior and physiological activity. In the college student they may take many forms. Often they present as adjustment disorders with anxious features, test/performance anxiety, social phobia, and substance induced anxiety disorders. Like depression, anxiety disorders and panic disorders often run in families. Therefore, genetics, biochemical and environmental factors may all be involved. It is important to remember that with help the symptoms are treatable and one can learn alternative ways of coping with anxiety. It may help to tell students not to try to pretend that it will simply go away on its own.

Of course, some mild anxiety is appropriate regarding certain events like an exam, an important or new event like an interview or speaking in front of an audience. It usually causes one to become more alert and to be prepared. However, when the worry or anxiety becomes overwhelming and interfere with one’s daily living and ability to cope effectively, then it is unhealthy and may require the intervention of a mental health professional. Panic attacks may be one way in which these overwhelming feelings of anxiety are expressed. Panic attacks are usually brief episodes of intense fear that present with physiological symptoms, such as heart palpitations, dizziness, stomach discomfort, etc., that occur unexpectedly in the absence of any external threat. They can occur in conjunction with social phobia, generalized anxiety and major depression. Often an individual will recognize that the fear they are experiencing is excessive or unreasonable. However, they are unable to cope with the anxiety that is generated. At least two unexpected panic attacks with persistent concern or worry about further attacks, changes in one’s behavior to avoid or minimize the attacks that create difficulty in daily functioning is often a sign that there can be significant anxiety underlying the attacks. It is best to seek treatment early to help prevent it from progressing to later stages.

There are many types of treatment approaches for dealing with anxiety, including various stress reduction and relaxation approaches, psychotherapy, and medication. If you suspect that a student is struggling with anxiety, referring them to the Counseling Center for support may help motivate them to seek out treatment.