Throughout
the year, the Office of Counseling and Psychological
Services receives inquiries from faculty, administrators and
support staff. In many cases, due to the frequent contact
that they have with a student, they have an excellent
opportunity to observe the student. They may be the first to
notice the signs that a student may be in need of a referral
for professional counseling. Below are some of the general
symptoms that indicate that a student may be experiencing
some difficulties:
-
marked
changes in behavior
-
decline
in personal hygiene
-
isolation
from others
-
decline
in academic performance
-
talks
about feeling anxious or depressed
-
makes
comments about feeling worthless and that things are
hopeless
-
exhibits
symptoms of stress such as headaches, nausea, appetite
change or inability to sleep
-
has
had traumatic changes in personal relationships such as
break-up with a significant other or death in the family
-
exhibits
signs of alcohol or drug abuse
-
overly
concerned about weight or body image
-
manifests
a sudden unwillingness to communicate
-
makes
references to suicide*
-
exhibits
disorientation or bizarre behavior
-
exhibits
paranoid thoughts
-
becomes
verbally abusive or physically violent
-
threatens
bodily harm to others*
*
References to suicide or homicide: ALL suicide threats are
to be taken seriously. No matter what the context, a student
who talks about committing suicide is at risk and needs to
be evaluated by a mental health professional immediately.
Threats against others also demand an immediate response. In
those instances, Security should be the first contact to
ensure the safety of those involved and determine the
appropriate course of action.
At
any time that you feel concerned about a student's behavior
or emotional well-being, feel free to call for the Office of
Counseling and Psychological Services at 740-351-3213, or
stop by to consult with our staff. |
