Plan to comply with Public Act No. 08-157

 

Overview

In order to comply with Public Act 08-157, Goodwin College has initiated a plan designed to educate all faculty and staff on how to recognize and respond to students and other individuals on campus who may be at risk to harm themselves or others.

 

Effective communication of the plan to faculty and staff occurs through various actions. Goodwin College will send an information e-mail to all employees about Public Act 08-157 and about how they can access the full text of the College’s plan and procedures on the Goodwin College website.  The Plan will be posted on our website.  This information is also an important part of our Emergency Response Plan that is prepared and available to the College community each year. As new employees are hired, they will learn about the plan as part of their orientation.  Finally a resource center for faculty and staff has been established in a visible section of the Library.    In addition, Goodwin College is contracting with Intercommunity Mental Health Center to offer training to staff and faculty on how to recognize and assist others at risk and to learn basic de-escalation techniques

 

The Plan

 

Recognizing Students or Others in Distress

Many colleges and universities are experiencing an increase in the number of distressed or disruptive students on their campuses.  As a Goodwin College employee, you may encounter a student in distress.  Many of you regularly interact with our students and others both in and out of the classroom.  Given this unique position, it is not surprising that you are often the first to notice when a student or coworker is distressed or begins to act in a disruptive or threatening manner.  College students who experience overwhelming stress often seek help from trusted faculty and staff members.  Faculty and staff who are seen as caring and trustworthy are in a unique position to offer support to students and to point them in the direction of the assistance they need.

This resource is offered to help you recognize signs of student distress and to suggest basic guidelines for effective interventions; however, each student presents a unique situation. If you are concerned about a student’s behavior and/or health, it is always wise to seek consultation with a professional.

 Sources of Student Distress

Students may experience distress as a result of the various concerns they face. While most students successfully cope with the pressures of college life, others need assistance.  Some common sources of student distress include:

Signs a Student May be in Distress

 

Because students often seek the support or advice of faculty/staff when they are feeling overwhelmed, it is helpful for you to be aware of the signs that a student is in distress.  At times, a student may not openly disclose their concern or ask for help, but their behavior or attitude may be noticeably changed.  Being cognizant of these distress signals can help you be more in control of situations that may present themselves and to facilitate the helping process for the student.  Some common signs of psychological distress include:  

Distressed vs. Distressing Students

There is a difference between students who are in emotional distress from those whose behavior is distressing to others. Students who are in distress are experiencing emotional pain, which may be generated by internal or external factors. A distressed student may appear highly distracted, publicly tearful, withdrawn, anxious, irritable, and/or hypersensitive, and may be missing classes or may openly state they are having problems.  Distressed students may be referred to the Advising and Counseling Center and generally find counseling helpful in addressing their concerns.

Students who are distressing, on the other hand, are those who cause distress for other people (e.g., instructors, classmates, administrators, roommates), due to their inappropriate behavior.  Examples of such behaviors include disruptive outbursts in class, inappropriate expressions of anger, threats of harm to self or others, etc.  It is appropriate for faculty and/or staff to alert their department chairs and/or program directors and/or the Vice President for Academic Affairs regarding these students, if approaching them directly and expressing concern does not seem possible.

The most complicated situations involve students who are both distressed and distressing. Sometimes they may not be fully aware of how they are being perceived by others or how their behavior impacts others.  These students should also receive appropriate intervention through their department and/or the V.P. for Academic Affairs. The Advising and Counseling Center is available for consultations regarding the possible need for psychological intervention.   These students should also be encouraged to seek clinical counseling.  When working with these challenging students it is important to seek consultation and to know your own limits.  The Advising and Counseling Center can help provide you with some helpful consultation.

Tips for Interacting with and Assisting the Distressed Student

There are no absolutely correct procedures for dealing with a distressed student.  Each person has his/her own style of approaching and responding to others.  Listed below are some suggestions for interacting with the distressed student.

 

Referrals

Your role as a possible helper is not only valuable, it could be crucial.  In most cases, you will be able to respond effectively to student needs; however, there might be occasions when you would want to refer a student to someone else for assistance.

Advising and Counseling Center.  If you have students who exhibit any signs of distress, provide support to the student and consider referring the student to our Advising and Counseling Center.  The contact persons at the Center are Tyesha Wood, extension 6716 and David Zoppoli, extension 6768.   You can call to set up an appointment for the student or call the Center while the student is in your office and hand the phone to the student to arrange the appointment.  Write down the name and phone number for the student.   Sometimes it is useful or necessary to walk a student to the Advising and Counseling Center.  Ms. Wood and Mr. Zoppoli are also available to consult with faculty and staff on how to deal with emotionally distressed and/or distressing students.

 

Clinical Counseling.  Our counselors are trained to counsel students on academic and personal issues as they relate to their status as a student.  If a student requires additional clinical counseling, the student will be referred, by the counselor, to Dr. Hank Lerner, a licensed professional counselor, who is available for referral and consultation.  Students who want to make an appointment with Dr, Lerner, without first visiting the Advising and Counseling Center may do so.  Dr. Lerner can re reached directly at 860-236-4295.

 

In urgent situations, you can contact the Intercommunity Mental Health Center at 860-569-5900.  This crisis line is manned 24 hours/day.  If the counselors at Intercommunity deems it appropriate, they have the ability to sent their Mobile Crisis Unit to campus to provide an immediate psychological assessment, to try to help to deescalate the crisis, and/or, if appropriate, facilitate psychiatric hospitalization.  In emergency situations, always dial 911 first, and then dial 555 to contact campus security before doing anything else.  Clearly state your name and location and the reason for the call.

Again, if you perceive a student is in imminent danger, contact campus security at 555.  If the student does not appear to be in immediate danger, it would be helpful if you would facilitate the student's connection with Dr. Hank Lerner or a counselor at the Intercommunity Mental Health Center at 860-569-5900.  At the very least, encourage the student to talk to a counselor in the Advising and Counseling Center. 

 

Follow-up and Confidentiality Procedures

Students, faculty and staff can be assured that counseling sessions are confidential.  The advisors and counselors understand that you, as concerned faculty and staff, might be interested in the progress of a student you referred.  The ability to share information is governed by confidentiality laws and ethics. 

Counselors can

Counselors cannot

In some cases, a student may find it is in his/her best interest for information to be shared with a faculty, staff, family member, or significant other. This is done with the student’s written authorization that includes a clear explanation of the purpose and content of the disclosure.

An exception would be a counselor’s determination of imminent danger to the student or others.  In these cases, counselors are obliged to disclose this information to the V. P. for Academic Affairs or the V.P. in charge of campus security.

Reasons for Referral Failure

Upon occasion, despite good intentions and accurate knowledge of resources, a referral for counseling is not successful. Before you judge yourself, the student, or the referral source too harshly, consider the following possibilities.

Following up on an Unsuccessful Referral