Supporting Mental Health of Students
Including a simple statement in your syllabi to normalize help-seeking behaviors can be a great way to create a culture of caring. Reminding students that you are there for them as a support and that other resources are available on campus are great ways to encourage students to seek out help when they need it.
Listening and communicating with students
Knowing when to be concerned
Examples of concerning behavior:
- Missing classes or irregular attendance
- Significant change in behavior
- Comments that are inappropriate or irrelevant to class discussion
- Unable to control emotions
- Poor hygiene
- Appears intoxicated or smells of alcohol
- Appears high or smells of marijuana
- Appears tired or is constantly falling asleep in class
- Concerning writing or art
- Extreme change in weight
- Extreme change in appearance
- Unusual bruising or other injuries
- Interrupting class discussions
- Very anxious
- Interfering with other students’ ability to learn
- Making threats or threatening behavior
- Talking or writing about suicide
Talking to Students about concerns
Tips for Responding to Students’ Mental Health Needs
Faculty and staff play a huge role in preventing suicide and promoting help-seeking behaviors on campus. Knowing when and how to talk to distressed students or mental health concerns is critically important.
- Speak with the student in a private, comfortable place.
- Openly and honestly express your specific concerns.
- Listen to their feelings without judgement.
- Offer hope.
- Be direct.
- Do not be sworn to secrecy.
Questions you can ask
- When did you begin feeling like this?
- How can I best support you right now?
- Have you thought about getting help?
- Are you thinking about hurting or killing yourself?
- Are you/have you been thinking about suicide?
What you can say that helps
- You are not alone in this. I’m here for you.
- You may not believe it now, but the way you’re feeling will change.
- I may not be able to understand exactly how you feel, but I care about you and want to help.
- You are important to me. Your life is important to me.
- I am here for you. We’ll get through this together.
What you can say that hurts
- It’s all in your head. You’ll be fine – stop worrying.
- We all go through times like this.
- You have so much to live for – why would you want to die?
- Snap out of it. Look on the bright side.
- Here’s my advice…
If you are concerned for a student, don’t miss it, and offer support as you can.
Including a simple syllabi statement can help normalize help-seeking behaviors and let students know faculty care.