Faculty Support of Student Mental Health
Life as an Ohio State student is exciting. Still, college life can be difficult to navigate. In your role as faculty, students may perceive you as a good listener, and someone who can lend a helping. Your expression of interest and concern can be a critical factor in helping a struggling student find appropriate assistance. Conversations with your student may give you cues that everything is not okay. This awareness can impact you as well because you care. Faculty are often the first people who are positioned to be of support to Ohio State students.
Many people have experienced trouble, felt distressed or been upset. However, stress over time may lead to more serious concerns. Knowing what to look for, knowing when and how to seek consultation and knowing how to make caring referrals can help students significantly.
Including the following statement on your syllabi is a great first step to encourage positive mental health for your students:
As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student’s ability to participate in daily activities. The Ohio State University offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing.
If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus via the Office of Student Life’s Counseling and Consultation Service (CCS) by visiting ccs.osu.edu or calling 614-292-5766. CCS is located on the 4th floor of the Younkin Success Center and 10th floor of Lincoln Tower. You can reach an on-call counselor when CCS is closed at 614-292-5766 and 24 hour emergency help is also available though the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK or at suicidepreventionlifeline.org
We value your role in supporting the emotional wellness of the student in your life or classroom, and Counseling and Consultation Service is here for you as well. Counselors at CCS can be reached at 614-292-5766 to offer consult regarding the mental health of your student. When you call, simply let us know you would like a call back for consult. As always, in case of emergency, please seek immediate assistance.
Content provided by Counseling and Consultation Service.
Supporting Your Student
Many of us experience hard days and feel sad, depressed or upset at some point in our lives. However, significant distress experienced over a period of time may suggest a more serious problem. It is important to know what to look for and how to reach out for consultation if you become concerned about a student.
Possible Signs of Distress
Academic Problems
- Excessive procrastination
- Change in performance
- Repeated requests for special consideration or accommodations
- Excessive absence or tardiness
- Excessively anxious when called upon in class
- Unusual or change interaction patterns
- Inability to stay awake in class
- Disruptive or threatening behavior
- Written work with reference to self-harm or content that appears bizarre
Behavioral Problems
- Change in appearance and hygiene
- Dramatic weight gain or loss
- Swollen or red eyes
- Uncharacteristic changes in mood
- Impaired speech
- Inappropriate or exaggerated emotional reactions
- Smell of alcohol/marijuana, or evidence of excessive alcohol/drug use
- Difficulty concentrating
- Disrupted sleep or appetite
Dealing with Disruptive and Disturbed Students
Disruptive behavior is behavior that interferes with students, faculty or staff and their access to an appropriate educational or work environment is considered disruptive. Disruptive behavior should not be ignored. Remain calm. Remind yourself that it is not about you; it is about the situation. Tell the individual that such behavior is inappropriate and there are consequences for failing to improve the disruptive behavior. Many disruptive situations involve anger. Recognize that the period of peak anger usually lasts 20-30 seconds. Although this may seem like an eternity in the throes of the situation, often it is best to “wait it out” before progressing.
Download a Guide to Dealing with Disruptive or Distressed Students (PDF)
Request a program for your department
- Dealing with Distressed and Disturbed Individuals: Presentation and discussion of behavioral presentations, recommended actions, safety precautions, legal and student judicial code options and effective referral. Two-hour version presented by experts from Ohio State Public Safety, Student Conduct and Counseling and Consultation Service. For more information, please contact Dr. Micky M. Sharma.
- REACH: A suicide prevention training program offered to students, faculty and staff (approximately 60-90 minutes). Contact Wendy Winger, SAMHSA Grant Program Coordinator at 614-688-5829.
If you have concerns for a student, call Counseling and Consultation Service at 614-292-5766 to consult with a clinician or to discuss how to make a referral. When our representative answers, say that you are a faculty or staff member and would like a call back from a clinician. As always, if you are aware of immediate risk of harm to a student or anyone else, call 911 or seek immediate assistance.
If you are seeking ways to help refer your student to Counseling and Consultation Service, first, convey to the student your concern and express that they could benefit from further support. Then, encourage the student to schedule a phone screening. If the situation is urgent, ask the student to call directly at 614-292-5766.
It is appropriate to offer for the student to schedule a phone screening or to call CCS while they are with you. If the student feels comfortable doing this, it can further convey care and support in the moment. You can also find a complete list of mental health support options to share with your student.
How much can CCS tell me about the student I referred?
Faculty and staff are often concerned about students after a referral is made. This is an understandable and caring reaction. However, CCS adheres to legal and professional confidentiality parameters.
We can:
- Answer general questions regarding referral process.
- Consult regarding concerns and make recommendations on how to approach a situation.
- Take information from you regarding a student or group of students.
We cannot:
- Confirm that a student has contacted CCS
- Discuss any specifics regarding a student or treatment recommendations.
Can I schedule for the student?
The student must contact our office under their own free will. Faculty, staff, families, friends or loved ones are not able to schedule on the behalf of students. You may contact us while the student is present, however we will need to speak directly to the student.
What should I do after referring a student?
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Follow up. It can be helpful to arrange a time to speak with the student again after making a referral. This helps to communicate your concern and interest.
- Maintain. Continue to provide clear and consistent boundaries and expectation with the student in your staff or faculty role.
What if the situation is urgent?
Please call our office at 614-292-5766 and our counselors will assess the situation and help make that determination. Whenever possible, we will ask to speak directly to the student if they are with you at the time of the call.
If you believe you or another person is in danger, call 911. If you are calling from a university number you will reach Ohio State Department of Public Safety. If you are calling from your personal phone, you will reach the Columbus Police Department. The direct line for University Police is 614-292-2121.
Learn more about ways help a distressed student, and seek immediate assistance if you are dealing with a student in crisis.
The Consultation and Assessment Team (CAT) is an informal consultation team that reports to the Vice President for Student Life. Permanent members include representation from the Ohio State Police, ADA Coordinator’s office, Office of Legal Affairs and the following units within the Office of Student Life: Counseling and Consultation Service, Student Advocacy Center and Student Conduct.
Consultation meetings are held at the request of Ohio State faculty, staff or students who are concerned about the behavior of a student that is potentially dangerous to others or presents a significant disruption.
The charge of the CAT team is to:
- Assess situations involving students who pose a potential risk of harm to persons or property in the university community or of substantial disruption of university activities.
- Consult with individuals involved in or impacted by the student’s behavior.
- Recommend university responses to situations involving violent, threatening or significantly disruptive students.
- Make recommendations to the Senior Vice President for Student Life on an appropriate course of action regarding a student who poses a potential risk of harm consistent with university rules and policies.
The team will recommend actions to help manage the situation accounting for community safety, individual student rights and the preservation of the campus learning, living and working environment. CAT considerations include the potential for violence, strategies to contain disruption, resources available to assist the student in addressing core concerns, assisting others impacted by their behavior and accommodation that may be required by law and setting appropriate behavioral boundaries within existing policies and procedures.
Contact
Micky M. Sharma, PsyD, 614-292-5766
Director, Counseling and Consultation Service
Kelly B. Smith, 614-292-0748
Director, Student Conduct
Dr. Dan Clinchot has arranged for graduate students in NGP and the other interdisciplinary life science programs to have access to the psychological counseling services of Tyler Rogols, MBA, MA, LPCC in the COM. Appointments can be made by your students at hrscom.counseling@osumc.edu. Important note: due to concerns about overscheduling this service is currently only available to those students who are in COM laboratories.