As members of the campus community, faculty and staff are likely to encounter distressed students in the course of their daily work and can play a crucial role in identifying and responding to these students.  The tragic events that took place last week on the campus of Virginia Tech are a potent reminder of our need to be alert to warning signs of students in distress.

While the first step is to notice signs of potential distress, the brief occurrence of a single symptom or sign may not indicate the presence of unmanageable stress.    Some of the symptoms described here fall well within the range of experiences typically present in normal young adult development.   Multiple symptoms or patterns of behavior consistently present over time are a more likely indicator that a student’s distress may require professional intervention.

Marked Changes in Academic Performance or Behavior
Be alert to a student’s  poor performance and preparation when it is markedly inconsistent with previous work, repeated requests for special consideration (e.g., incompletes, late papers), or infrequent class attendance with little or no work completed.  A student who engages in disruptive behaviors consistently derailing classroom activities or lectures is of great concern.  A student’s aggressive and angry domination of classroom discussions should be similarly concerning.

Physical Signs
Students in crisis frequently experience a marked decline in personal hygiene.  Notice students with a consistent disheveled or fatigued appearance, consistent lethargy, listlessness and lack of energy, or swollen or red eyes.  Students in crisis frequently experience dramatic weight loss or gain.

Social Withdrawal
Because of the powerful protective effect of a strong social support network, a student’s withdrawal from peers, friends and family is often a red flag signaling a decline in overall functioning.  A student’s avoidance of social interaction in general or a sudden marked reduction in class participation are often a sign of distress as well.

Strange Behaviors and Impaired Thinking
Students in serious crisis may engage in bizarre or strange behaviors obviously inappropriate to the situation.  Incoherent or confused speech, delusional thinking suggesting a loss of contact with reality, and paranoia or suspiciousness are symptoms deserving immediate attention and referral for a diagnostic assessment.  Agitation, noticeable restlessness, hyperactivity, or unusually rapid speech are distinct behavioral signs of anxiety potentially requiring intervention.  A marked impairment of attention and memory is a common sign of distress as well.

Exaggerated emotional responses
Intense anxiety, extreme irritability and anger, prolonged depressed mood, and /or frequent tearfulness and crying spells are all clear signs of emotional distress.  The
excessive use of alcohol, the frequent use of  illicit drugs and/ or the abuse or misuse of prescription medications are typically signs deserving a prompt referral for assessment and intervention.

Threatening Statements and Behaviors
Students in crisis frequently express helplessness or hopelessness, including references to suicide, giving away prized possessions, and “settling accounts” with finality.  Disturbing or morbid themes consistently present in verbal or written work are frequently a sign of underlying emotional distress.  Less frequent, but equally alarming, are students’ references to homicide, death, or threats to harm others.  Students in crisis may engage in violence committed against objects, animals or people.  Stalking behaviors and threatening or accusatory statements embedded in e-mails, text messages, letters or phone calls signal an acute crisis and require an immediate response.

Referring a Student in Crisis to UCLA Student Psychological Services
UCLA’s campus counseling service, Student Psychological Services, is available for immediate referrals on a walk-in basis weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  SPS psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers provide in-person appointments and phone consultations between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays.  Additionally, students can speak to a licensed crisis counselor 24-hours a day by calling (310) 825-0768. 
When a student is in crisis, faculty and staff frequently accompany that student to SPS’s Wooden Center West offices to be certain that the student receives the needed services. Under these circumstances, when possible, it’s helpful to call ahead to let us know that you’re bringing a student to SPS for immediate walk-in services. 

We encourage members of our campus community to contact SPS at (310) 825-0768 to consult with a staff clinician regarding the referral process for the array of services we offer.  You can access the SPS website’s online self-assessment screening feature for help in describing concerning symptoms, and for tips on how to identify and refer a distressed student.  My SPS colleagues and I emphasize the value of early intervention and prevention.  We look forward to working with you in promoting a safe learning environment supporting students’ intellectual, social and emotional development.