College students typically encounter a great deal of stress – academic, social, family, work, financial, spiritual – during the course of the educational experience. While most students cope successfully with demands of college life, for some, the pressures can become overwhelming and unmanageable. The inability to cope effectively with emotional stress poses a serious threat to students’ learning ability.

Your expression of interest and concern may be a critical factor in helping a struggling student reestablish the emotional equilibrium necessary for a fulfilling college experience. Your willingness to respond to students in distress will undoubtedly be influenced by your personal style and your particular philosophy about the boundaries of your responsibility for helping students.

•  Serious academic trouble: declining grades, multiple unexplained class absences, loss of motivation or investment in school.
• Disruptive behavior: aggressiveness, violating others’ rights with little provocation.
• Exaggerated emotional responses: angry outbursts, sudden or excessive tearfulness or giddiness.
• Persistent depression: crying, low energy, irritability, decline in personal appearance, helplessness/hopelessness, loss of control, emotional flatness.
• Changed social relationships: withdrawal from friends or other sources of support, or sudden over-dependence on people.
• Increased physical complaints: headaches, indigestion, nausea, stomach pains, loss or gain in weight.
• Increased alcohol or drug use.

• Listen: Support begins with listening.
• Empathize: Try to understand the student from his or her perspective.
• Normalize: Reassure the student that many college students feel overwhelmed and stressed out.
• Set limits on your role: When the support you are comfortable providing doesn’t feel like enough, it is time to refer the student to other resources.
• De-stigmatize counseling: Take the anxiety out of seeking help. Counseling is here for the students because college is a time for growth and development, which can sometimes be difficult.

Sometimes, professional assistance can best help the student to manage the demands and developmental challenges of college.
Counseling Services is here to help. It is time to refer the student to counseling when:

• You don’t know how to help the student or the issues are outside your area of expertise.
• You feel unable to provide all of the support the student needs.
• You feel that you have reached your limit or have exhausted your ideas on how to help. Boundaries are healthy to have in place!
• The student’s struggles leave you feeling helpless or anxious.
• You feel angry or intimidated by the student’s comments or behavior.
• You are spending large amounts of time on the student’s problems.
• The student’s issues are too close to home for you, making it hard to keep perspective.

Here are some pointers:

• Share with the student your interest in his or her well-being.
• Emphasize that the choice to seek professional guidance is up to the student.
• Give the student the option to call Counseling Services (4317) from your office, or invite them to stop by during our daily open hour, 1-2pm (no appointment needed).
• Offer to call Counseling Services on the student’s behalf while he or she is with you.
• Remember that referring to Counseling Services can help the student begin to help himself or herself.

Suggested phrases to use:

• “We have counselors on campus and their offices are located in the Student Life Suite.”
• “I would encourage you to just try one session to see if counseling could help.”

 Other information you should tell the student

• Information the student shares with the counselor is confidential except when the student discloses potential harm to self or others.
• There is no cost to the student for services at EMU's Counseling Center. This is a benefit provided to students when enrolled at EMU. 
• Individual or group counseling sessions are based on individual need and may include referral to professionals outside the college.
• Typical issues discussed with the counselor include anxiety, depression or sadness, relationships break-ups or problems, grief, sexual abuse or assault, sexuality concerns, stress, disordered eating, family problems, and personal growth.

 

If a student is violent, out of control, or in immediate danger of physically harming himself or herself:

• Call 911 in any situation you feel might result in immediate harm and needs immediate assistance.
• During office hours, call the Counseling Center (Ext. 4317) and make it clear that this is an emergency. Ask to speak to an available counselor.
• If a counselor is not available, contact the Student Life offices at ext. 4135.