The Student Center for Health and Well-Being encourages faculty and staff to utilize its resources.
Possible services include:

• Presentations to classes.
• Consultation regarding a specific student.
• Crisis management
• Information and data regarding health and mental health issues.
• Identifying resources in the community.
• Invitations for staff and faculty to attend in-service training in eating disorders, depression, suicide awareness and other areas.

For more information about counseling services call 723-6085.

INFORMATION FOR FACULTY/STAFF

MEMO TO: Faculty and Staff
REGARDING: Mental Health and Students

PURPOSE: National statistics indicate college students are experiencing increased and more complex mental health concerns. Also, students increasingly are on medications for mental health problems.

This trend is true at the College of St. Scholastica as well. This reality presents a challenging task for CSS faculty/staff.

The purpose of this memo is to present some challenges faculty/staff may face regarding students with mental health concerns and to outline the process of making a referral to Counseling Services. I alos recommend going to our web site at www.css.edu/schawb.xml for more comprehensive information and to view the names and faces of staff that provide counseling services, health services, and psychiatric services at CSS.

THE CHALLENGES: Increasing numbers of students are entering college with a complex set of emotional concerns. Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, Suicidal Thinking, are realities that we are faced with in working with today's students.

Faculty/staff may become aware of a student having emotional difficulties in several ways: An assignment requiring self exploration or self disclosure, observation of a student's behavior, the student openly sharing with you the difficulties they are experiencing, or hearing from another faculty, staff, or student. Regardless of how you may have become aware of a student's difficulties, you may be faced with these challenges:

• What do I say to these students?
• As a concerned and caring person, how much counsel do I give to these students?
• What accommodations can I/should I make for these students?
• What are my responsibilities ethically and legally in regards to issues students may present?
• How and when should I make a referral for counseling?

These are questions you may have struggled with or discussed. While not having the answer for these challenging issues, this document hopes to outline some guidelines to help process these issues for yourself and your department.

Counseling Services and Student Support Services will consult with faculty and staff concerning these issues with students at any time!

WHAT DO I SAY TO THESE STUDENTS ?

• Listen a lot.
• Ask them what resources they are utilizing to help them with their difficulties.
• Be hopeful and normalize the situation if possible - "I have worked with students experiencing similar difficulties as yours. If you utilize the resources and people available for support, you will be successful."

• It can be difficult to play the dual role of instructor and counselor
• Be positive that the student came to you and shared his/her concerns directly. "I'm glad you are able to share these concerns with me." Discuss a referral to Counseling Services (Tower 2150, x6085). Indicate these services are provided by professional counselors and what is discussed is confidential." I am not a professional counselor and would like to refer you to counseling services so you can discuss these concerns further. I do want to talk to you more about how I can be helpful to you in my class."
• Most of your counsel can be in the area of assessing how the student thinks the issues in his/her life are impacting their performance in your class. We recommend keeping the discussion specific to your class and not to overall academic performance. Outline, in as specific detail as possible, what the student needs to do to be successful in your class.
• While listening to a students concerns, try not to ask questions that would lead to further discussion of a students personal difficulties. Keep the discussion related to your class and how the student can be successful in your class.

• Students who have a mental health diagnosis can seek formal accommodations through the Disability Resource Center. The coordinator of the Center is Heather Angelle, MSW, LGSW Tower 2144, x6645.
• Students who do not have a mental health diagnosis or who are not interested in using the Disability Resource Center for formal accommodations, can make informal requests to individual professors. It is up to each professor to decide what accommodations s/he is willing to make based on the individual circumstances of the student.
• Counseling Services or Student Support Services may contact you about a student (if a student has signed a release to share information) requesting support concerning a student's academic performance.

WHAT ARE MY RESPONSIBILITIES LEGALLY AND ETHICALLY IN REGARDS TO ISSUES STUDENTS MAY PRESENT?

While there is no legal or policy document related to this question, the school recommends the following actions be taken:

• If any employee of The College receives information about a student that may endanger the physical or emotional safety of that student (i.e., suicidal thoughts, an active eating disorder, clinical depression), or whose actions may result in endangering another persons physical or emotional safety (i.e., homicidal intent or threats), the employee should immediately consult with the following person(s): Dean of Students, Counseling Center staff, or Student Support Services staff.
• If a student shares information with faculty/staff outside a formal therapeutic relationship, faculty/staff are not bound by the rules of confidentiality. In fact, it is the responsibility of faculty/staff to bring these concerns to the appropriate personnel for consultation purposes. A decision of what action needs to be taken can be made during this consultation process.

HOW AND WHEN I MAKE A REFERRAL FOR COUNSELING?

• Anytime a student is experiencing mental health or emotional concerns that's impacting his/her academic or personal life, a referral to counseling services is appropriate.
• If the student is in crisis as you are speaking, tell the student you are going to call Counseling Services (x6085). Tell the secretary you have a student in crisis and who needs to be seen by a counselor, as soon as possible. If necessary, a counselor will come to your office and talk to the student there. Let the administrative assistant know if this is needed.
• In a crisis situation, accompany the student to Student Services (T2150).
• If a student is not in crisis, let the student know of your concern and ask if s/he would be willing to see a counselor. If the student agrees call x6085 to schedule an appointment or walk the student to T2150 and introduce the student to the administrative assistant who can schedule an appointment.
• If it is after hours for Counseling Services (8:00-4:30) and a crisis situation presents itself, (i.e., suicidal concerns about a student) call either campus security (x6175) or the campus operator and inform them about the crisis without revealing the student's name. They have a list of crisis counselors whom they will call. The counselor will come to campus to assess the situation. If the student is with you, remain with the student until the crisis counselor arrives.

If you have any questions regarding this information or other questions regarding the mental health concerns of CSS students, please feel free to call Tad Sears at x6017 or send an e-mail to tsears@css.edu.