Letters

HOW YOU CAN HELP AN INDIVIDUAL IN EMOTIONAL DISTRESS

TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY:

STUDENTS TYPICALLY ENCOUNTER A GREAT DEAL OF STRESS (ACADEMIC, LIVING ARRANGEMENT, FAMILY, WORK, FINANCIAL) DURING THE COURSE OF AN ACADEMIC YEAR. FOR SOME, THE PRESSURES BECOME OVERWHELMING AND FEEL UNMANAGEABLE. THE PURPOSE OF THIS LETTER IS TO HELP YOU IDENTIFY BOTH THE LESS OBVIOUS AND THE MORE DRAMATIC SIGNS OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS AND TO SUGGEST HOW YOU MIGHT BE OF ASSISTANCE TO STUDENTS.

AMONG THE SIGNS OF MORE SERIOUS DISTRESS ARE:

  • ACTUAL SELF-HARMING (CUTTING; TAKING AN OVERDOSE OF MEDICATION, DRUG OR TOXIC CHEMICAL).

  • ATTEMPTING TO HARM ONESELF (CLIMBING OUT ONTO A WINDOW LEDGE OR THE ROOF).

  • TALKING TO OTHERS ABOUT KILLING ONESELF.

  • LEAVING A SUICIDE NOTE.

  • AGGRESSIVENESS IN DEALING WITH THE ENVIRONMENT (SLAMMING DOORS VIOLENTLY, USING ONE'S FIST TO BREAK A WINDOW OR HIT WALLS, THROWING AND/OR BREAKING OF FURNITURE).

  • AGGRESSIVENESS TOWARD OTHERS (SCREAMING, THREATENING, INSULTING, ACTUAL PHYSICAL ATTACK).

    THESE SIGNS OF SERIOUS DISTRESS SHOULD BE REPORTED TO PUBLIC SAFETY (EXT. 2222) WITHOUT DELAY IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE INDIVIDUAL'S SAFETY. IF THE STUDENT RESIDES IN THE RESIDENCE HALLS, HIS/HER HALL DIRECTOR OR THE OFFICE OF RESIDENCE LIFE (645-2171) ALSO SHOULD BE NOTIFIED.

    SOME LESS OBVIOUS BEHAVIORS THAT MAY FUNCTION AS SIGNALS THAT A STUDENT MAY BE FEELING MORE ANXIOUS OR DEPRESSED THAN USUAL ARE THE PATTERNS OF COPING DESCRIBED BELOW:

  • SOCIAL PARTICIPATION (PERSON EITHER BECOMES SIGNIFICANTLY MORE DEPENDENT ON YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION OR WITHDRAWS FROM USUAL PARTICIPATION AND BECOMES RELATIVELY SOCIALLY ISOLATED).

  • APPEARANCE (A USUALLY NEAT PERSON BECOMES CARELESS IN TERMS OF HYGIENE AND/OR DRESS).

  • CLASS ATTENDANCE (PERSON EITHER BECOMES SIGNIFICANTLY INCONSISTENT OR STOPS ATTENDING CLASSES).

  • ENERGY (UNUSUAL FATIGUE OR INEXPLICABLE BURSTS OF ACTIVITY WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT BE PRODUCTIVE).

  • MOODS (UNUSUALLY IRRITABLE, RESTLESS, SAD).

  • ALCOHOL/SUBSTANCE USE (OCCASIONAL DRINKER/USER ENGAGES IN THE ACTIVITY WITH SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER FREQUENCY AND/OR THE AMOUNT CONSUMED PER USAGE INCREASES SIGNIFICANTLY).

  • EXTREME WEIGHT LOSS/GAIN.

    YOU CAN BE OF ASSISTANCE BY ENCOURAGING THE PERSON TO CONTACT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:

    COUNSELING CENTER, 120 RICHMOND QUADRANGLE, ELLICOTT COMPLEX (645-2720). TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT, PHONE OR WALK IN WEEKDAYS 8:30 A.M. TO 5 P.M. SERVICES ARE FREE, VOLUNTARY AND CONFIDENTIAL.

    CRISIS SERVICES INC. (834-3131). AN OFF-CAMPUS, DAILY, 24-HOUR TELEPHONE HOTLINE; IF NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE, CRISIS SERVICES' EMERGENCY OUTREACH UNIT CAN COME TO CAMPUS FOR EVALUATION OF RISK TO SELF OR OTHERS.

    THE OFFICE OF STUDENT ADVISEMENT. ACADEMIC DEANS AND OTHER OFFICES PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR ACADEMICALLY RELATED PROBLEMS. THEIR NAMES AND NUMBERS CAN BE FOUND IN THE UNIVERSITY DIRECTORY.

    IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT SOMEONE, CALL THE COUNSELING CENTER (645-2720) AND CONSULT WITH THE COUNSELOR ON DUTY. REMEMBER: IT IS BETTER TO OBTAIN ASSURANCE THAT A PERCEIVED PROBLEM IS NOT SERIOUS THAN NOT TO CALL AT ALL.

    YOURS TRULY,

    THE STAFF OF THE COUNSELING CENTER

    		•

    [Current Issue] [Search Reporter] [Talk to Reporter]