Assisting Students in Distress

Both undergraduate and graduate students may experience feelings of loneliness, isolation, and despair when encountering academic and personal challenges. These emotions can significantly disrupt academic performance and potentially lead to unhealthy coping strategies and other severe repercussions. Faculty and staff are in a unique position to demonstrate compassion for students in distress. UAGC kindly requests your compassionate approach in addressing such students and encourages you to utilize this guide for RECOGNIZING, RESPONDING, and REFERRING students for additional support.

• Recognize Signs
• Respond with Care
• Refer for Support
• Resources

RECOGNIZE Indicators of Distress

You may be the first to RECOGNIZE something distressing occurring for a student since you have frequent and prolonged contact with them. Be aware of the following indicators of distress. Look for groupings, frequency, duration, and severity - not just isolated symptoms.

Academic

Physical

Safety Risk

Psychological Indicators

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RESPOND to Signs of Distress

Sometimes students cannot or will not turn to family or friends. Please RESPOND. Your expression of concern may be a critical factor in saving a student’s academic career or even their life. Follow the chart below to determine who to contact when faced with a distressed student or concern for that student's safety.

Is the student a danger to self, or others, or does the student need immediate assistance for any reason?

Is the student a danger to self, or others, or does the student need immediate assistance for any reason?

• Student Advocate HELPline - Online Care Report

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Refer to Supportive Services

University Resources

• *Check out the Student Support Resource Guide for additional information about these University resources*

National Resources and Crisis Lines

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Student Advocate HELPlineThe Student Advocate HELPline is a service available through the Office of Student Access and Wellness. Student advocates assist students who are experiencing extreme personal hardships and critical life impacts by providing short-term de-escalation, assistance locating support resources in the local area, and action-planning to address the educational impact of situational stressors. Impacts supported include but are not limited to; concern for individual or community safety, homelessness and extreme financial hardship, sexual assault, domestic violence, and/or significant impact resulting from the loss of a loved one. To connect a student with a Student Advocate, please submit an Online Care Report. If connecting a student related to an urgent safety concern, please also attempt to reach a Student Advocate by dialing Ext. 24357 and warm transferring the student before submitting a referral.Please note, Student Advocates are available M – F from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT.Warm Transfer Line: Ext 24357
Email for Follow Up and to Provide Additional Information Related to an Existing Referral: [email protected]

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Access and WellnessThe Office of Student Access and Wellness fosters equal opportunities for student success through accessible educational programs, disability-related advocacy, faculty and staff education, and an enhanced awareness of individual abilities and contributions. We are committed to an environment that respects and values diversity and encourages self-advocacy and self-determination.In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, as amended, the University of Arizona Global Campus prohibits discrimination on the basis of a disability. Reasonable accommodations will be granted to students who present appropriate documentation of disability and are otherwise qualified to participate in their specific program of study.Contact a helpful member of the University of Arizona Global Campus Student Access and Wellness staff at:Email: [email protected]
Phone: 866.974.5700, ext. 20050

• Click for more info about the Office of Student Access and Wellness

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Student ResolutionThe University of Arizona Global Campus community benefits from informal processes and formal procedures that encourage prompt and equitable resolution of complaints and concerns that students may have about the implementation of policies and procedures that govern the institution. Additionally, the UAGC community also benefits from other support services that work to connect students with appropriate resources for their needs.Who May File A Complaint: The Resolution Center addresses complaints filed by an individual student, alumnus, former student, prospective applicant, or applicant. The terms “student” and “complainant” are used interchangeably.No Reprisal: Students will not be subjected to reprisal or retaliation for using or participating in the resolution procedure.Issues Eligible for Review: Issues eligible for review by the Resolution Center include, but are not limited to, issues concerning billing and/or refund policy, transcripts, financial aid and other finance options (excluding Employee Tuition Benefit), course drop or scheduling concerns, personal hardship matters resulting in an account balance, student account complaints, military benefits, disability-related matters, and advising issues. In addition, any discrimination complaints, based on race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, religion, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, marital status, sex or gender identity, medical condition, service in the uniformed services, political activities and affiliations, age, disability, veteran status, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws excluding behavior that falls under the Sexual Misconduct/Harassment Policy.Email: [email protected]

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Student ConductThe University of Arizona Global Campus is committed to fostering an environment that respects and values diversity, self-advocacy and self-determination. This section communicates the meaning and importance of personal and academic integrity to all members of the University community. Students agree to stay informed and abide by the University of Arizona Global Campus policies as they progress through the program.

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Title IXTitle IX is a federal law intended to protect people from discrimination based on gender or sex in all areas of education. It is the regulatory framework that guides our University Sexual Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy. Faculty, staff, and students may direct concerns related to gender or sexual harassment or discrimination to the Title IX Coordinator, Leah Belsley.Email: [email protected]
Phone: Ext. 20705

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Resources and Training

Professional Development and Mental Health First Aid Training

UAGC Suicide Prevention and Awareness Week - The goal of suicide prevention is to reduce risk factors and increase protective factors that promote and encourage resilience while empowering those at risk to reach out for help. Understanding these risk factors, knowing the warning signs, and having information about prevention and intervention are the tools that equip individuals to offer support. Together, we can make a difference, reduce stigma, and save lives.Mental Health FIRST AID from National Council for Mental Wellbeing - Mental Health First Aid is a skills-based training course that teaches participants about mental health and substance-use issues.Be There Certificate - Learn to support someone struggling with their mental health through this online course created by Jack.org in partnership with Born This Way Foundation.NonProfitReady.org - Principles of Psychological First Aid and many other options for professional development.Learn@Lunch - UCLA Staff Assembly is excited to partner with Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and Case Management Services in this Learn@Lunch session on helping distressed students.Creating Safe Scenes Training Course - Creating Safe Scenes is a free, Commission on Accreditation for Pre-Hospital Continuing Education (CAPCE)-accredited, online training course that helps first responders—police, fire, and emergency medical services—work with individuals experiencing a mental health and/or substance use crisis.Employee Assistance Counseling - EAC - Free, confidential, short-term counseling is available to all benefits-eligible employees nationwide, their dependents, and members of their households through ComPsych. Life is full of challenges, and we all need help handling them sometimes. The EAC provides diverse entry points to help you build resilience and strengthen the skills needed to address those challenges.Kognito - Through UofA Counseling and Psychology Services (CAPS) this online learning tool allows users to practice communicating with students and colleagues about mental health in a simulated environment. The training is now in EDGE Learning (credentials required).

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Warning Signs and Protective Factors

Suicide is often surrounded by stigma, making it less likely someone will seek help, and harder to know when someone really needs help. People who are suicidal do not want to die, as much as they do not want to go on living with their pain.The more we understand about suicide prevention the more we can help the people we care about who are struggling. Knowing the warning signs of suicide is one of the most important first steps in prevention. It’s also important to know the difference between warning signs and risk factors, as well as to recognize protective factors.

Warning Signs
A suicide warning sign is the earliest detectable sign that indicates a person is at heightened risk for suicide in the near-term (i.e., within minutes, hours, or days). These are observable clues and behaviors related to an individual’s immediate state.Critical warning signs include threatening to hurt or kill oneself, talking of wanting to hurt or kill oneself, making plans for suicide or looking for ways to kill oneself such as obtaining means, and talking, posting, or writing about death, dying, or suicide, when these actions are out of the ordinary for that person.Similar to the warning signs of a heart attack – such as chest discomfort or shortness of breath – the warning signs of suicide signal the potential for immediate or short-term crisis. Also, it's a cluster of these signs that most strongly signal risk rather than only one or two warning signs.Protective Factors
Protective factors are personal or environmental characteristics that help protect people from suicide.A person with strong protective factors can have greater coping skills to deal with higher levels of stressors than someone without support, therefore reducing suicide risk. Even someone with very strong protective factors can become overwhelmed and potentially suicidal, but protective factors can create greater resiliency during tough times.Examples of Protective Factors:
Access to effective behavioral health care
Connectedness to individuals, family, community, and social institutions
Life skills, including problem-solving skills and coping skills, ability to adapt to change
Self-esteem and a sense of purpose or meaning in life
Cultural, religious, or personal beliefs that discourage suicideExploring Safety Concerns
Talking openly and directly about suicide is the first step in preventing it. Asking directly about suicide invites the person to talk openly about their thoughts, lets them know you are there to support and help, and conveys that you aren’t scared to talk about suicide.Just because someone is having—or has had—thoughts of suicide, it does not necessarily mean they are in immediate danger. You can take some time to listen calmly to what they have to say and ask some follow-up questions to figure out how you can help."I heard you say [insert language used], and I'm concerned about you. Can you tell me what you meant by that?""Have you wished you were dead or wished you could go to sleep and not wake up?"
If YES, seek clarification about when this was present. Ex. Right now, in the past month, the past year, or more than a year ago."Is suicide something you're thinking about now or have thought about in the past?"
If YES, seek clarification about when this was present. Ex. Right now, in the past month, the past year, or more than a year ago."Have you taken any steps to prepare for ending your life, or thought about how you might do this?"
This is an effort to understand if there is direction towards action, a plan of action for current or future, and the degree of lethality. This could be giving away valuables, writing a will or suicide note, collecting pills, securing a weapon, a prior initiation of an attempt but changing their mind, etc."Is there anyone around you or that we can connect with for additional support?""Are you open to speaking with someone about these thoughts and the stress you are navigating, such as a crisis line? We can call together if you're open to this."If someone is thinking of suicide, they need professional support. It isn’t something you can keep secret. It is possible that they could be upset with you in the short term, but you need to do what’s best for them in the long run.

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