What You Can Do
Talk: Be willing to talk with the student. Try to find an appropriate time and place where you can both talk privately and neither feels rushed or preoccupied. Give the student your full attention. It is possible that your willingness to talk will establish an atmosphere to make a referral or work through a problem.
Listen: Be willing to listen to the student’s concerns in a sensitive way. If you have initiated the contact, express your concerns in nonjudgmental terms.
Maintain/respect your limitations: Be aware of and maintain clear and consistent boundaries and expectations. Maintain a professional relationship with the student and be consistent in academic expectations. Know your limitations. When you feel you have helped as much as you can, seek another option, such as referral.
Give hope: It is important to help students understand the options before them and that things will not always seem hopeless. Suggest resources such as family, friends, and professionals on campus. Avoid making promises you cannot keep.
Consult: Take all suicidal and homicidal expressions seriously. A student whose behavior has become threatening, violent, or too disruptive may need a different kind of intervention. Please consult with
Counseling Center staff or the
University Police Department if you have any doubts about the appropriateness of an intervention.