Transcript Recognizing Students in Trouble

Recognizing Students in Trouble
Randall Ward
Disability Resource Center
Brooke Ruxton
Counseling & Student Development
Why Us?
Why Now?
• Increased awareness of mental health
issues and their impact on college
campuses
– At NIU
– Societal
• Increased presence of students with
chronic mental health issues on college
campuses
Objectives
• Be open to questioning what we “think we
know”
• Educate regarding common student concerns
that may become “troubling”
• Learn how to identify students who may be
likely to escalate
• Provide resources/guidelines to assist in
responding to these situations
• Empower staff to engage with and/or take
action regarding your interactions with
students who may be “in trouble”
Your Experiences
• Why are you here today?
• What is your comfort level in working
with students who may seem concerning?
• What types of unusual situations have
you encountered?
• What situations/student presentations
are most intimidating to you?
– Specific Examples?
– How might you handle them?
Student Concerns
• Asperger’s Syndrome
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJqk4nfkJ
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Anger/Frustration
Anxiety
Depression
Psychosis
Substance Use
Student Behaviors
• Changes in behavior including appetite,
sleep, etc. (either increase or decrease)
• Mood Swings
• Changes in social behavior
• Difficulties with academic performance
• Hygiene concerns
• Crying spells
Student Behaviors
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Physical Agitation or depression
Inappropriate Boundaries
Unusual body language, eye contact, etc.
Unusual speech patterns
Disturbances of thought/beliefs/ideas
Confusion
Rigid/concrete thinking
Need for rituals/order
More?
Guidelines
• Separate behavior from mental
health/disability
• Disturbed vs. Disturbing
– Know your own triggers or comfort level
• Address behavior that is inappropriate,
disrespectful, threatening etc.
– Define this
• Have a plan/procedure in place in your office
for dealing with disruptive students and
troubling information. Make sure all staff
members are aware of plans
Guidelines
• Pay attention to your “gut”
– If a situation doesn’t feel “right,” you are
uncomfortable… involve a supervisor or other staff
member
– Better to overreact, than under react
• …But don’t make assumptions
– Most troubling behavior comes from normal feelings
of anxiety, shame, frustration etc.
– Students may have trouble regulating their emotions
– Most behavior can be de-escalated
If you Identify Signs of Distress
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Provide a private (but safe) space
Speak directly to the student
Respect confidentiality and autonomy
If you recommend counseling or other
services, do so in a non-threatening way
Explain why you are concerned
Use specific behavioral examples
Avoid generalizations
Be honest
De-Escalation
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Speak calmly and slowly
Use a softer tone of voice
Be patient, don’t interrupt
Seek clarification, don’t argue
Try to see the students’ perspective; use active listening
– What is active listening?
• Provide physical distance
• Be aware of your body language and other non-verbal
cues
• Call in back-up support
– Other staff
– Consult with CSDC/DRC/CSSC
– NIU Public Safety
Angry/Disruptive Students
• Set limits- don’t “put up with” inappropriate behavior
• Provide choices
• If you feel unsafe/uncomfortable do not meet alone, let
others know what you’re doing
• Take all threats seriously - it is not your job to
determine the level of threat
• Never try to detain a student on your own
• Call police if you feel the situation may be dangerous
• Document Interactions
• Use CSSC resources and Maxient
• Student Threat Assessment Team (STAT)
Other Troubling Communications
• Sometimes a student may be on the phone or
communicate in writing, rather than in person
contacts
• Bring unusual communication to the attention
of a supervisor and consult about action to be
taken
• Err on side of “over” reacting rather than
“under” reacting
• Always take threats seriously
• On the phone get as much information as
possible; who, what, where, when…
Resources
• Optimize the hand-off
• Call with questions
• Disability Resource Center
4th Floor Health Services Building
753-1303
• Counseling & Student Development
Center
200 Campus Life Building
753-1206
After hours: 753-1212 ask for on-call counselor
Resources
• Community Standards & Student Conduct
280 Campus Life Building
753-1571
Maxient system:
http://www.niu.edu/communitystandards/
• NIU Public Safety
Non-emergency 753-1212
Or call 911
• Student Affairs & Enrollment Management
Altgeld 208
753-1573
Thank You
• Questions