Counseling Information for Faculty and Staff

Flower by Tim Trumble

ASU counseling center staff offer faculty and staff the opportunity to talk with a counselor about concerns they may have about an ASU student. Often faculty and staff are in a good position to positively influence a student and encourage her/him to seek help. As consultants, our role is to help you determine the best course of action for addressing your concern. We accomplish this by discussing your concerns and brainstorming with you ways in which you can help.

Some common situations in which we consult are:

Individuals exhibiting unusual behavior or presenting safety concerns in a classroom or residence hall.
Professors expressing concern about the well-being of a student.
Parents concerned about their student’s academic functioning.
Students concerned about the behaviors or habits of another student.
Situations in which multiple students experience a traumatic event, such as the death of a student or a national or local event impacting students.

ASU Counseling Staff can be helpful by providing the following information on how to:

Spot a student in distress.
Talk to a student who seems to be depressed, anxious, and/or suicidal.
Suggest to someone that they get professional assistance.
Handle a disruptive or threatening student.
Make an appointment for ASU counseling services.

What to look for:

Academic Indicators Negative change in performance. Continual seeking of special accommodations. Essays or creative work that indicate extremes of hopelessness, social isolation, rage or despair.	Personal/Interpersonal Indicators Tearfulness. Direct statements indicating distress, family problems or other difficulties. Unprovoked anger or hostility. A hunch or gut-level reaction that something is wrong.
Physical Indicators Deterioration of physical appearance. Coming to class bleary-eyed, hung over or smelling of alcohol. Excessive fatigue. Visible changes in weight	Safety/Risk Indicators Written or verbal statement of finality or suicidal flavor. Giving away of prized possessions. History of suicidal thoughts or attempts. Self-injuries or self-destructive behaviors.

Issues to consider:
Avoid making sweeping promises of confidentiality, particularly if a student represents a safety risk to him- or herself or others. Students who may be a danger to themselves or others need swift professional intervention, and assurances of absolute confidentiality may get in the way. It is acceptable to stay "in role" as a faculty or staff member. You do not have to take on the role of counselor. You need only to watch and refer. If you do feel comfortable discussing a problem with a student, you may still want to consult with a counselor.

What you can do:
You can discuss your concerns with the student and listen for his/her response. Talking about a problem or labeling a crisis does not make it worse. It is the first step to resolving it. If you are referring a student to us, some students find it comforting to call from your office. ASU Counseling Services provide crisis intervention for students who are experiencing a mental health crisis. During normal working hours, students may walk in or call and request a same day appointment to discuss urgent situations. After office hours, EMPACT 24-hour Crisis Line is available for crisis consultation by calling 480.921.1006.

ASU counselors are happy to consult with you about students of concern. Counselors can provide information about spotting a student in distress, talking to a student who seems depressed, anxious or suicidal, suggesting counseling handling a disruptive or threatening student, and making an appointment for counseling services.

To contact a counselor for a consultation, call any of the ASU counseling centers.