KNOWLEDGE BASE 

PC - Student in Crisis

OD - Student in Crisis

What is Student in Crisis?

• “A student-in-crisis is any situation that requires immediate action to ensure the safety of the student.”​

• “Students who struggle with mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, OCD, bipolar disorder, extreme stress, or suicidal thoughts face unique barriers to their education.” 

What Are Some Examples?​ 

• Abusive situations​

• Extreme financial distress​

• Immediate danger​

• No job, home, or basic needs​

• Suicidal Ideation​

• Death of a family member​

• Experiencing a serious injury that incapacitates them from continuing their courses​

• “Any situation where a student indicates that they are in an unsafe environment or suffering from extreme emotional/psychological distress is considered a student in crisises situations.”​

Warning Signs of Suicide 

• Talking about wanting to die or to kill themselves​

• Looking for a way to kill themselves, such as searching online or buying a gun​

• Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live​

• Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain​

• Talking about being a burden to others​

• Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs​

• Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly​

• Sleeping too little or too much​

• Withdrawing or isolating themselves​

• Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge​

• Displaying extreme mood swings​

If you receive a chat/email from a highly distressed or suicidal party, please do the following:​

• ​Get the individual’s name​

• Ask where they are​

• Ask what the issue is​

• Ask these questions to determine is in immediate danger:​

1. Ask, "Are you thinking about harming yourself?"​

2. If 1 is Yes, ask "Do you have a plan to harm yourself?"​

3. If 2 is 'Yes', ask "Do you have a timeline to harm yourself"​

• If determined that the student is in immediate danger, ask the student to call 9-1-1 or local law enforcement. Provide the suicide hotline number and have them call or text  8-9-9, if applicable. (For international students, Google the country for the hotline number) Additionally encourage the student to reach out to family, their ecclesiastical leaders, or healthcare professionals. ​

• Inform the student that someone from the Student Affairs office will be contacting them.​

• Create a ticket and send it to Student Services. ​

Instructor/Third Party  

• If an instructor or third party calls in, please do the following:​

1. Get the student’s information ​

2. Ask the party for details about the students’ behavior​

3. Provide the suicide hotline number and have them pass it on to the student 9-8-8 or 1-800-273-8255​

4. Provide the instructor with the content in the Information Section on how they can support their student.​

5. Reassure the third party that they did the right thing​

6. Create a ticket and send it to student wellness​

Keep Calm and Carry On 

Remember to not be robotic in these scenarios. Be sympathetic, listen, and talk to them, do not say anything that could come off as judgmental. 

Please remember that these are priority cases that need to be taken care of by management within the next 24 hours; therefore, the information you provide and your prompt communication with the right people are crucial in these situations.​ 

Discuss with your team how you would handle the following scenarios and what steps you would take: ​

• 1. A student messages you in the chat and starts expressing that they are having a hard time with their classes, they express that they do not want to continue, their life doesn't have any meaning, they feel alone, they want to hurt themselves.​

• 2. A student emails saying that they have lost their job, they are having a hard time trying to survive, they are behind on bills, they are having an economic crisis.