Indicators of Distress
Academic Indicators
- Sudden decline in quality of work/grades
- Repeated absences
- Disorganized performance
- Multiple requests for extensions
- Overly demanding of faculty/staff time and attention
- Bizarre content in writing/presentations
- Increased need for personal counseling (rather than academic)
Physical Indicators
- Marked changes in physical appearance (deterioration in grooming or hygiene, significant weight gain/loss)
- Excessive fatigue or sleep disturbance
- Intoxication, hangovers, smelling of alcohol
- Disoriented or "out of it"
- Garbled, tangential, disconnected or slurred speech
Psychological Indicators
- Self-disclosure of personal distress, including family problems, financial difficulties, suicidal thoughts, grief
- Unusual/disproportionate emotional response to events
- Excessive tearfulness
- Panic reactions
- Irritability or unusual apathy
- Verbal abuse (e.g. taunting, badgering, intimidation)
Safety Risk Indicators
- Unprovoked anger or hostility
- Physical violence (shoving, grabbing, assault, use of weapon)
- Implying or making a direct threat to harm self or others
- Academic assignments dominated by themes of extreme hopelessness, rage, worthlessness, isolation, despair, acting out, suicidal ideation, violent behaviors or other "cries for help"
- Stalking or harassing
- Communicating threats via email, texting, phone calls