Message to the Faculty

USA Counseling & Testing Services

Identifying and Referring Students in Need of Counseling Assistance

Recommendations for Faculty Members

Understand the importance of your role in identifying and facilitating the referral of distressed students for counseling. For a variety of reasons, most students who have problems warranting counseling will not seek it on their own.

Recognize the signs of students having mental health difficulties. Common indicators are given below:

Decline in academic performance	Sleeping in class
Excessive absenteeism or tardiness	Noticeable change in weight
Failure to complete assignments	References to sadness/hopelessness
Unkempt appearance	Expressions of guilt
Tearfulness or crying	Irritability or angry outbursts
Appearing tired	References to being overwhelmed
Pessimistic outlook	Unusual emotional reactions
Rambling or incoherent speech	Strange or bizarre behavior
Restlessness	References to death or suicide

Schedule a private meeting with any student suspected of having significant problems. Prepare for the meeting by reviewing the student's record and reflecting upon the reasons for your concern. Have information about counseling and other resources available

During the meeting with the involved student, express your concern and share observations of the student's behavior that led to the decision to intervene. Give specific examples in a matter of fact, non-judgmental way. As an illustration, one might say the following: “I've noticed that you have missed class five times in the last month, did not turn in your project, and you’ve appeared to nod off during class more than once. I overheard you tell someone in class that your parents are getting divorced and that you recently lost your job. I'm concerned about how you're doing." After giving your reasons for the intervention, elicit the student's reaction and if agreeable, refer to counseling immediately.

Depending upon the circumstances, it may be appropriate to seek the student's permission to follow-up with him/her later to see if counseling was sought and the outcome. This could provide the opportunity to encourage follow through if counseling was not sought.

If you have questions about how to handle this process or just need to talk to one of our staff about concerns you have about a particular student, we are available for consultation at 460-7051.