Mental health awareness

Please see Page 4 of the Helping Students in Distress Guide.

OFFERING SUPPORT: NON-URGENT SITUATIONS

If you are required to offer extra assistance to a student it is important to be mindful of your competence and capabilities, as well as the boundaries of your role.
The majority of situations are non-urgent, although it may seem that the student is in distress or visibly upset.
Offering the student your time for a supportive discussion, and informing them of the supports available can make a big difference.
The Disability and Wellbeing Service offers a confidential consultation service to all staff who may wish to discuss their concerns about students in difficulty or distress.
The student may be displaying signs of emotional distress due to some of the following situations:

• Depressed
• Anxious
• Having problems
• Having health issues
• Generally stressed with relationships
• Homesick
• Lonely and isolated
• Bereaved
• Self-esteem
• Money problems

However, these situations should NOT be deemed urgent if you perceive no immediate risk to the student or others.
WHAT YOU CAN DO

• Listen
• Give the student time to talk
• Understand the situation from their point of view
• Be sympathetic and not dismissive
• Help the student to feel supported
• Make appropriate referrals

WHAT YOU CAN’T DO

• Solve all the student’s problems
• Take responsibility for their emotional state or actions

Please see Page 5 of the Helping Students in Distress Guide.

OFFERING SUPPORT: URGENT SITUATIONS

A situation may be URGENT if:
You believe the student may be at risk of harming themselves or others. You are concerned for one or more of the following reasons. The student:

• May be at risk of serious self-harm
• Has completely stopped functioning
• Is violent or threatening violence to people or property
• Seems very disorientated and out of touch with reality
• Expresses suicidal thoughts/plans

Whether the student will accept help or not, in all situations of medical emergency where there is an immediate risk to the student’s life, i.e. overdose of drugs, serious self-harm, physical emergency:

• Contact Security Services on 2222 for help in contacting emergency services.