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Supporting Students in Distress: A Guide for Faculty and Staff

When a student is struggling, your outreach can make a difference.

Every member of the LVC community plays an important role in supporting student wellbeing. When a student is struggling, your outreach, concern, and referral can make a meaningful difference.

This guide will help you:

  • Recognize signs of student distress
  • Respond in a supportive manner
  • Refer students to appropriate resources
  • Act quickly when safety concerns arise

Recognize

  • Frequent absences or missed classes
  • Sudden decline in academic performance (grades, quality of work)
  • Missed assignments or disengagement
  • Difficulty concentrating or participating
  • Repeated classroom disruptions
  • Continuously coming to you for personal rather than academic issues
  • Disturbing content in writing or presentations
  • Multiple requests for extensions/special considerations
  • Doesn’t respond to repeated requests for contact/meetings
  • Excessive anxiety, worry, or stress
  • Excessive tearfulness or emotional outbursts, panic reactions
  • Expressions of hopelessness or despair
  • Significant mood or personality changes
  • Statements indicating self-harm or suicidal thoughts
  • Self-disclosure of personal distress (e.g., abuse, assault, discrimination, legal difficulties)
  • Feeling socially disconnected or lack of belonging
  • Verbal abuse (e.g., taunting, badgering, intimidation)
  • Unusual/disproportionate emotional response to events
  • Expressions of concern about the student from peers
  • Disruptive or concerning behavior
  • Aggressive or threatening comments
  • Significant changes in appearance or hygiene
  • Concerning emails, texts, or social media posts
  • Signs of alcohol or substance misuse
  • Marked change in physical appearance (e.g., poor grooming/hygiene or sudden weight loss/gain
  • Strange or bizarre behavior indicating a loss of contact with reality
  • Visibly intoxicated or smelling of alcohol or marijuana
  • Rapid speech or manic behavior
  • Depressed or lethargic mood or functioning
  • Observable signs of injury (e.g., facial bruising or cuts)
  • Housing insecurity
  • Food insecurity
  • Financial hardship
  • Family or relationship crises
  • Transportation concerns

Respond

  • Do not leave the student alone
  • Call Campus Safety (717-867-6111 or ext. 6111) or 911 if there is an imminent danger to the student, you, or anyone else
  • Feeling overwhelmed is a common reaction and means you care
  • Speaking calmly with moderate pace and volume
  • Offer the student water
  • Sometimes the quickest solution is not the most helpful solution
  • Say 鈥淟et’s take some time and figure this out together.鈥�
  • Consult with people nearby, a colleague, another campus office, and/or the Red Folder
  • If helpful, another person can join you in the discussion with the student
  • Remember you are not alone
  • Say 鈥淚鈥檓 going to reach out to my colleague to make sure we are exploring all possible options for helpful next steps.鈥�
  • Give full attention and eye contact
  • Say 鈥淚鈥檓 concerned and I want to help you.鈥�
  • Restate what the student says to make sure you understand their needs and concerns
  • Silence is ok
  • Directly ask the student about thoughts of harming themselves or other
  • Say: 鈥淎re you having any thoughts of hurting yourself or ending your life? “Are you thinking about hurting someone else?鈥�
  • By asking you are not instilling thoughts
  • Express concern in a supportive and nonjudgmental manner.
  • Listen and allow the student to share their experience without judgment and interruption.
  • Avoid trying to diagnose or solve the problem.
  • Connect the student with appropriate resources.

鈥�I’ve noticed you seem to be having a difficult time lately and wanted to check in.鈥�

鈥�I鈥檓 concerned about you and wanted to see how things are going.鈥�

鈥�You don’t have to handle this alone. There are resources available to help.鈥�

Refer

Students experiencing stress, anxiety, adjustment concerns, relationship difficulties, academic challenges, or other personal concerns may benefit from support through:

  • Counseling Services
  • Health Services
  • Academic Support Services
  • Accessibility Services
  • Career Services
  • Spiritual Life
  • Student Engagement & Well-Being
  • Dean of Students Office

If you are unsure where to refer a student, contact the Dean of Students Office or Counseling Services for consultation.

If a student:

  • Expresses suicidal thoughts, plans, or intent
  • Threatens harm to others
  • Appears unable to care for themselves
  • Is experiencing a mental health emergency
  • Creates an immediate safety concern

Do not leave the student alone and immediately contact:

Campus Safety: 717-867-6111 or ext. 6111
Emergency: 911

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or Text 988

Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741

ACT

When in doubt, reach out.

You do not need to determine whether a student is 鈥渄istressed enough鈥� to receive support. If something feels concerning, trust your instincts and consult with Campus Safety, the Dean of Students Office, or Counseling Services.

A simple conversation and timely referral can have a meaningful impact on a student’s wellbeing and success.

Connect and Follow Up

Examples:

  • Homesickness
  • Relationship concerns
  • Academic stress
  • Time management difficulties
  • Financial concerns
  • Questions about resources

Resources:

Refer or Consult

Examples:

  • Severe anxiety or panic
  • Depression
  • Significant grief or loss
  • Emotional breakdown
  • Repeated concerning behavior
  • Student reports self-harm history
  • Major behavioral changes

Resources:

Contact Campus Safety at ext. 6111 or 聽call 911

Examples:

  • Student expresses suicidal intent or plan
  • Threats of violence
  • Serious intoxication or overdose
  • Student appears unable to care for themselves
  • Medical emergency

Resources:

  • Campus Safety, 717-867-6111 or call 911