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How Staff & Faculty Can Help

As faculty or staff, you are someone who will have regular contact with students and will be able to recognize when a student is not doing well.  If you have noticed signs of distress and are concerned for a student, here are some ways that you can help:

General Suggestions

• Talk to the student in private unless the student requests the presence of another person
• Respect the privacy of the student but do not promise confidentiality as you may be mandated to report
• Respect the student's values and beliefs, and avoid criticizing or sounding judgmental
• Know your personal limits as a helper鈥攜ou may not feel comfortable trying to help a student cope with a particular problem (and that鈥檚 okay), but you could help them get connected with a department which can provide the necessary services

Providing Support

• You can start the conversation by naming what you have noticed and expressing care and concern (e.g. 鈥淚鈥檝e noticed that you have been absent from class a lot and you haven鈥檛 been turning in assignments.  I鈥檓 worried that you鈥檙e not doing okay鈥�)   
• Listen to their concerns without judgment, interrupting, or advice-giving (unless it is requested)
• Ask questions to both help you understand their experience and convey that you care 
• The simplest way of helping can be by providing an ear and being present with the student 
• Try to be encouraging and hopeful, but not minimizing of their experience
• Normalize that it is a positive sign to seek help when they need it
• Ask directly if the student is thinking about harming themselves if you are concerned that they are thinking this (e.g. 鈥淪ometimes when people feel really down and things aren鈥檛 going well, they might think about suicide.  I鈥檓 wondering if you鈥檙e having thoughts of suicide?鈥�)
• Avoid telling them how they should feel, placing blame, or focusing on 鈥渇ixing鈥� the problem
• Before moving on to potential solutions or making a referral, make sure to give them space to 鈥渏ust talk鈥�
• Be clear that there are limits to your support and that professional help is available