If you have urgent concerns about a student's health or safety, please call Campus Safety at 717-337-6911 for immediate assistance.
Dear faculty and staff, we’ve designed this page especially for you. Students frequently turn to respected professors, mentors, coaches, and other college personnel for advice and support. It can sometimes be difficult to determine when a student might need more help than you can provide. The information on this page is designed to help you:
- Recognize some of the signs that a student may be struggling
- Identify available resources
- Refer a student for professional support
Signs a Student May Be Struggling
It is important for you to be able to recognize the signs that suggest a student might be experiencing emotional distress so that you can respond effectively. The behaviors listed below indicate possible cause for concern and intervention.
Changes in Academic Performance
- A marked decline in academic performance
- Excessive absences
- Deterioration in quality of work or bizarre or disorganized content in writing/presentations
- Over-dependence on you
- Repeatedly requests deadline extensions or begins missing classes/meetings
Changes in Relationships
- Death of a family member or close friend
- Difficulties in romantic relationships
- Significant or persistent conflict with family members, friends, or roommates
- Little sense of belonging, pattern of isolation, lack of social connection
- Is the focus of other students' complaints or concerns
Unusual Behavior
- Dramatic changes in behavior
- Sleeping in class, listlessness
- Marked changes in personal hygiene
- Disproportionate or erratic emotional reactions
- Excessive crying
- Overwhelming anxiety or panic
- Irritability or unusual apathy
- Marked weight loss or gain
- Preoccupation with food or body image
- Intoxication, hangovers or indications of problematic substance use (see below)
- Impaired or disorganized speech, or disjointed, confused thoughts
- Disoriented and bizarre behavior indicating a loss of contact with reality
- Notable irritability, Angry or hostile outbursts
- Aggressive, threatening or demanding behavior
- Bizarre behavior indicating a loss of contact with reality
- Alludes to harassment or assault
- Repeatedly violates community norms of behavior
- Disrupts class/meetings
Substance Abuse (Alcohol and other drugs):
- Bloodshot eyes, pupils larger or smaller than usual
- Sudden weight loss or weight gain
- Deterioration of physical appearance, personal grooming habits
- Unusual smells on breath, body, or clothing
- Tremors, slurred speech, or impaired coordination
- Attending class or practice under the influence
References to Suicide
- Overt references to suicide, statements of hopelessness or helplessness
- Indications of prolonged unhappiness
- Pessimism about the future
Signs a student might be considering suicide:
- Expressions of hopelessness about the future, hopeless about ability to change or improve the situation
- Expressions of being a burden to friends, family, the college
- Ostracization or difficulty connecting with others
- Physical cuts or other signs of self-injury
- Giving away possessions
- Talking about “if/when I’m gone….”
- Detaching from responsibilities and routine
Events associated with increased risk for suicide:
- Death of a family member or close friend
- Sudden breakup in a relationship
- Problems with family members, friends, or roommates
- Experiencing or causing an accident
- Doing something about which one is deeply ashamed
- Diagnosis of a serious illness
- Academic setbacks
If a student confides in you, it is important to listen attentively and fully, and try to understand what the student is communicating. It is helpful to respond with empathy and support that feels authentic to you, keeping in mind your own professional and personal limits. Be mindful of your inability to ensure privacy with what is shared. The only confidential resources on campus are mental health clinicians, college chaplain and athletic trainers. Suggesting, in a nonjudgmental way, that a student discuss their concerns with a counselor will convey a sense of compassion and care.
How to Refer a Student for Support
When you feel a student could benefit from professional support, express your concerns to the student in a straightforward way that reflects your concern for his or her wellbeing. Be specific regarding the behaviors that you are concerned about, what you have observed and avoid making generalizations or assumptions. Some students may dismiss your efforts, minimize or deny any troubles, and/or may feel intruded upon. In general, most students will appreciate your concern. Your expression of concern could be an important step toward encouraging them to take action and address their situation. If you have questions or concerns about how to have a conversation with a student, we encourage you to call us for assistance.
Unless you believe that the student may be a danger to self or others, the student has the option to accept or decline your recommendation for services. If the student is interested in pursuing services they can email us (counseling@gettysburg.edu) call us (717-337-6960) or use our drop in services Monday - Friday between 9 am and 4 pm. You are welcome to call Counseling and Wellness Services (CWS) and let us know that you have referred a student.
If you believe a student poses an immediate threat to themselves or others, please remain with the student and call Campus Safety: (717) 337-6911.
Resources
CARE Team: For non-emergency situations regarding a student’s academic, physical or social wellbeing, you may want to refer the student to Gettysburg College’s CARE Team. The CARE Team will receive your concern and respond to the situation, providing appropriate outreach and supportive services to the student. If you have observed potentially concerning student behavior that is not an emergency and does not need immediate attention, you are encouraged to report your student concern to the CARE Team to address the concern.
If a student would like to see a clinician but is unsure about meeting with a clinician on campus, is looking for on-demand support, is most comfortable speaking in a language other than English,or is looking for a specific type of counselor, a referral to BetterMynd may be best. Students can access four complementary therapy sessions here.
Counseling and Wellness Services (CWS): We offer confidential mental health services to all currently enrolled students. To schedule an appointment with CWS, your student can email us (counseling@gettysburg.edu) call us (717-337-6960) or use our drop in services Monday - Friday between 9 am and 4 pm. It is not uncommon for staff or faculty to assist tentative students in initiating that first outreach by making an email introduction or walking the student to our center.
Confidentiality
CWS staff members are required by law and by professional ethics to protect the confidentiality of all contacts with students. The only exceptions occur in cases of imminent danger to self or others, reports of child abuse, or by court order. Because communication between a therapist and a client is confidential, we cannot confirm or deny whether or not an individual student is utilizing our services nor can we discuss a student's situation, without the student's written consent. These limits of confidentiality do not apply in situations where a student poses an imminent risk to self or others. If you wish follow-up information on someone you have referred to us, please ask that student to provide us with permission to speak with you.
Consultation
In an effort to support your ongoing work with students, we can assist by talking through any concern you may have about a student. Our staff can make recommendations for how to broach sensitive topics with your student, coach you on how to provide support in your role, determine when/if a referral needs to be made to CWS. We are also available for workshops, and presentations, and provide programming on a variety of helpful topics for staff and faculty. Please call 717-337-6960 if you would like to talk with one of our counselors.
For Faculty and Staff Seeking Support
While CWS is only able to provide assessment and treatment services for students, the college’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides faculty and staff with confidential support and valuable resources. For more information, visit the Employee Assistance Program page.