Recognize, Respond, Refer
Students may encounter challenges that affect their physical health, mental well-being, and academic performance. As a faculty or staff member, the following information is provided to help you identify signs that a student may be in distress, respond effectively, and connect them with appropriate resources and support services to promote a safe and supportive campus community.
Resources:
Counseling center
- Free Confidential therapy and psychiatric services for all YU students.
- Counseling Center Website: https://www.yu.edu/student-life/counseling
- Counseling Center Wilf: (646) 592-4200
- Counseling Center Beren: (646) 592-4210
- Counseling Center Email: counseling@yu.edu
Emergency Numbers to call:
- Beren Security: (646) 592-4660
- Wilf Security: (212) 960-5200
- Cardozo Campus Security: (646) 592-6575
- Suicide Hotline: 988
- Hatzalah: (212) 230-1000
Other Resources
Guided breathing audio clips:
Red folder pdfs:
Recognize
Students may show signs of distress in many different ways. Be on the lookout for clusters and patterns of behavior. Here are some example behaviors to look out for:
Behaviors which may indicate emergency:
- Direct personal threats
- Verbal, written, or implied references to suicide, homicide, assault or self-injurious behaviors
- Unprovoked anger, physical aggression or violence
- Stalking, harassing or threatening others
- Sending threats/disturbing comments via email, texting or phone call
- Damaging property
- Strange or bizarre behavior indicating loss of contact with reality (e.g. panic attacks, uncontrollable crying)
- Visibly intoxicated or under the influence of drugs to the point of classroom disruption
- Observable signs of serious injury (e.g., facial bruising or cuts)
- Classroom disruptions that threaten the safety of others
- Disturbing content in writing or presentations (e.g., references to suicide, homicide, assault)
Behaviors which may indicate concern:
- Marked changes in physical appearance (e.g., poor grooming/hygiene or sudden weight loss/gain)
- Unusual/disproportionate emotional response to events (e.g., excessive tearfulness, panic reactions)
- Rapid speech or manic behavior
- Lethargic, low energy, low motivation
- Self-disclosure of personal distress (e.g., family problems, financial difficulties)
- Displays behaviors consistent with intoxication or smells of alcohol or marijuana
- Difficulty engaging in group activities with peers and classmates
- Concern by peers about the student
- Ongoing anxiety, submitting assignments late, stating concerns about assignments needing to be perfect
- Sudden and dramatic decline in quality of work and grades
- Frequently missed classes and assignments
- Multiple requests for extensions/special considerations (a change from prior functioning)
- Doesn’t respond to repeated requests for contact/meetings
- Easily or commonly distracted in class
- Grades are gradually lower than when the semester began and lower than other students, but still passing the class
- Participation is lower than when the semester began
- Inconsistent attendance, late arrivals or leaving early
- Requests an extension for the first time
Respond
Each situation is unique. Use these important tips to determine the most appropriate response for a distressed student:
Call campus security at Wilf Campus: 212.960.5200 ·Israel Henry Beren Campus: 646.592.4660 · Brookdale Center Campus
Call 911/ Hatzalah
Call the Counseling Center at Beren: 646.592.4210 Wilf: 646.592.4200
1. Pull aside student privately
2. Express that you have noticed some signs of concern and wanted to know what's going on with them- keep it open ended and gentle, not accusatory.
3. Explain to the student that you are there to support them and that it's okay to ask for help
4. Tell the student about the counseling center. Explain that going to therapy is common and helps a lot of people, and at YU they can talk to someone for free.
5. Offer to help them make an appointment or walk them to the counseling center if they are open to it.
6. Check in on the student at later points to discuss their progress and assess if other support can be provided
Important: Do not tell a student that you will keep a secret for them or won’t tell anyone about what they are dealing with. This puts you in a position where you cannot share important information with the relevant faculty without betraying the student’s trust.
Remember: your job is not to solve the student’s problem or "fix" them. Your job is to provide support and help the student understand that you are there for them and have their best interest at heart.
Refer
Is the student in danger to themselves or others, or in need of some emergency assistance?
- If on campus, call campus security.
- Call 911.
- Call the counseling center during school hours or email after hours.
- Do not leave student alone - call housing or security.
- If during school hours, call the counseling center at (646)592-4210 or (646)592-4200 Or email at counseling@yu.edu
- Email ymuskat@yu.edu
- Call security
- Look for other admin or faculty member to assist in decision making
- Ask for permission to speak to parent
- Stay with student
- Call 911 or Hatzala
- Refer the student to the Counseling Center .( see below) Offer to walk them there if they are open to it.
- Refer the student to the student success center if concern is related to academic performance.