My Simmons

Supporting Students in Distress

This initiative is a guide to help faculty, staff and other community members who interact with students to recognize, respond effectively to, and refer distressed students at Simmons University.

Recognize the Signs of Distress

Please review the most common signs of distress. Students may also present with indicators not listed.

Safety
  • Signs of physical abuse
  • Signs of self-injury
  • Interpersonal violence
  • Unprovoked anger or hostility
  • Implying or making a direct threat to harm self or others
  • Stalking or harassing
  • Disclosure of thoughts of death, suicide
  • Verbal abuse (e.g., taunting, badgering, intimidation)
  • Unresponsive or altered level of consciousness
Academic
  • Repeated absences and/or decline in quality of work or performance
  • Writings/creative work that include disturbing content and/or themes of despair, hopelessness, violence, death or aggression
  • Disorganized performance and/or repeated requests for extensions
  • Conduct that interferes with classroom, group work, or activity engagement
  • Frequent utilization of faculty/staff office hours for personal support
Physical/Behavioral
  • Marked changes in physical appearance
  • Excessive fatigue, listlessness
  • Sleep disturbance
  • Intoxication, hangover, smelling of alcohol, evidence of drug abuse
  • Disoriented or “out of it,” out of touch with reality
  • Garbled, rambling, tangential, disconnected or slurred speech
  • Behavior out of context or out of character for the individual
Psychological/Interpersonal
  • Self-disclosure of personal distress – family problems, financial difficulties, grief, shame
  • Excessive tearfulness, panic reactions, irritability or unusual apathy
  • Feeling hopeless and helpless
  • Expressions of concern about the student by peers
  • Concerning interpersonal communication style (e.g., withdrawn or agitated, mutters under breath, slow response time to questions)
  • Delusions and paranoia

Respond to the Signs of Distress

Use these important tips to determine the most appropriate response for a distressed student.

1. Say what you see.
  • Be direct
  • Stick to the facts
  • Don’t make assumptions
  • Describe the changes you have noticed
  • Ask if they are okay
  • Listen!

Conversation Tips:

“I have missed you in class lately. Is everything okay?”

“You have seemed down the past few classes. Is there anything you want to talk about?”

2. Show you care.
  • Let them know you are there for them
  • Be patient and listen
  • Maintain eye contact
  • Offer help where you can
  • Ask what they need
  • Remove distractions
  • Summarize what they say

Conversation tips:

“It sounds like you are really overwhelmed! Is there anything I can do to help out?”

“I’m hearing you describe that you’ve been really sad.”

3. Hear them out.
  • Listen!
  • Provide a space to be heard
  • Be curious, ask questions
  • Be present and patient
  • Let them know they are not alone
  • Affirm their feelings

Conversation tips:

“I would like to hear more about how you’ve been feeling.”

“That sounds really challenging.”

4. Connect to help.
  • Determine the need and resources
  • Reaffirm your support and care
  • Connect them to resources
  • Follow up

Conversation tips:

“It sounds like you’ve really been struggling. Have you thought about utilizing the counseling center? I have heard great things about it from other students.”

“Thank you for sharing your experience. I am not an expert in this area, but I know someone who might be able to help. Would it be okay if I put you in contact with them?”

Referring a Student in Distress

Choose from the options below to determine who to contact when you are concerned about a student who is distressed and/or disruptive.

Situation requiring immediate assistance

YES. The student is at immediate risk of harming self or others, is incoherent or unresponsive, is in extreme distress, or is causing extreme distress to others. I do not feel comfortable with the student being alone. Or, I have significant concerns about this student and cannot determine if they are at imminent risk.

  • Call 617-521-1111 if the student is ON CAMPUS or you are unsure of student’s location.
  • Call 9-1-1 if the student is OFF CAMPUS. After the student has connected to emergency resources, submit to the Needs Assessment Team Referral Form.
Situations requiring assistance

This is not an emergency, however, the student is showing signs of distress and the issue is impacting multiple areas of the student’s life. I am concerned about them and want to get them more help soon.

  • Consider the nature of the student’s distress and context-appropriate resources for consultation.
    • Assist the student in connecting with 24/7 support through the Student Assistance Program (SAP) at 1-866-335-4888.
    • Seek referral or consultation with the Counseling Center at 617-521-2455 or [email protected].
    • Seek referral or consultation with Student Engagement or Academic Services & Advising.
    • See Related Links on this page for additional support, including on-campus resources, reporting options, and hotlines/textlines.
    • Submit a CARE Team referral.
    • When in doubt, if you feel the situation is an emergency or can’t wait, call Simmons University Public Safety at 617-521-1111.
Situations you can handle

I’m not concerned for the student’s immediate safety, but I believe they are struggling with academic and/or personal issues and could benefit from some additional support.

What’s Next
  • Reflect on your own boundaries, self-care and support needs. Utilize colleagues, supervisors and department heads for consultation and collaboration. Consult HR for information on professional development, wellness programs and employee assistance options that are available to support faculty/staff.
  • Consider your status related to campus security requirements and if there are any Title IX- or crime-related reports you must file.
  • Report students of concern to the CARE Team by filling out an online referral form. While in your role respecting privacy is required under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), consulting about academic, safety, health and wellness concerns is allowable under FERPA.
  • Circle back with the student after a referral to a support resource to check in.
  • Understand that due to privacy regulations, it may not always be possible for other campus resources to provide you with detailed information after a student referral.

Resources

On-Campus Resources
Reporting Options
Hotline/Textline Resources
  • Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988
  • Crisis Textline: Text HOME to 741741
  • National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) Lifeline: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264)
  • Steve Fund (resource for young people of color): text STEVE to 741741
  • Trevor Project (resource for LGBTQ young people): 1-866-488-7386; text START to 678678
  • RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE
  • A New Day Hotline Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Hotline: 508-588-8255 or toll free at 1-888-293-7273
  • National Network to End Domestic Violence: https://nnedv.org/