Return to MassArt Home
 

Guide for Faculty/Staff

How To Assist Students with Psychological Emergencies / Urgent Issues.

Guidelines for Dealing with Students Who Are Emotionally Disturbed:

Introduction

The following information is designed to help you understand student mental health emergencies, signs that students may be distressed, and how to assist students in getting support, including referral to MassArt Counseling Services. Additional information is located on the Counseling Services website.

I. Mental Health Emergencies

Mental health emergencies include:

  • A student exhibiting possible psychotic symptoms (bizarre behavior, paranoia, delusions, hallucinations);
  • A student communicates in any manner (verbally, physically or written) an indication of intent to harm her/himself and/or others;
  • A student making suicide threats and/or comments;
  • A student making homicidal threats and/or comments;
  • A student making a suicide attempt.
  • A student saying s/he has been sexually assaulted;

Additional situations that merit emergency referral to Counseling Services include:

  • When a student is unable to control her/his emotions and/or behavior( i.e. anxious, having a panic attack, agitated, crying uncontrollably);
  • When a student appears angry, irritable or belligerent;
  • When a student has become distraught over news of academic failure or dishonesty;

II. Referral Steps for Mental Health Emergencies

  • Do not leave the student alone.
  • If a student requires immediate medical attention, call Public Safety at (617)879-7800. Give them information on your location and the need for an ambulance.
    Contact Counseling Services. During business hours (M-F, 9-5pm), call (617)879-7760 or Dr. Smith  directly at x7761. Outside of business hours, ask Public Safety x7800 to contact Dr. Smith from Counseling Services directly.
  • Contact the Dean of Students office. During business hours (M-F, 9-5pm), call (617)879-7711 (administrative assistant) or contact Dean Jamie Glanton Costello directly at x7703. After business hours, MassArt Public Safety will contact the appropriate Administrative staff on call.
  • Be honest with the student about the fact that you need to inform the Dean of Students office and Counseling Services. Do not promise confidentiality. It is important for the student to know that you are involving professionals who can help (even if the student does not feel that is possible).
  • Only share information about the incident with people who absolutely need to know.

III. Signs of Student Distress

Significant or sustained changes in any of the following general areas may indicate that a student is having difficulty:

  • changes in academic performance - attendance, class participation, procrastination, poor quality work, difficulty concentrating;
  • marked changes in appearance - hygiene, weight loss, weight gain;
  • shifts in behavior - social withdrawal, hyperactivity, fatigue, irritability, aggressiveness; shifts in a mood - apathy, anxiety, sadness, hopelessness, grief, anger, over-excitement;
  • thought processes that seem bizarre, paranoid, racing, or delusional;
  • written communications - email correspondence, assignments, etc. with disturbing content regarding self harm, harm to others or threatening language;
  • impaired state due to substance use

IV. Non-Emergency Referrals

Behaviors/situations that merit non-emergency referral to Services include:

  • when you are concerned about a student's weight and/or eating behavior (significant weight loss, induced vomiting, restrictive eating, binging);
  • when a student is depressed (i.e. crying, reporting s/he is depressed or "down");
  • when you are concerned about a student's substance use;
  • when a student appears to be in an abusive relationship;
  • when a student has experienced the death of a loved one and appears to be having difficulty grieving;
  • when a student is becoming overly reliant on your advice and guidance;
  • whenever you are concerned about a student, even if you are unclear about what is going on with the student and/or what your specific concerns are.

V. Referral steps for Students in Distress (non-emergency)

Inform the student of Counseling Services and suggest that the student seek assistance.
During regular business hours (M-F, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.), escort the student to Counseling Services in the Kennedy Building (2nd floor - entrance through the Student Center) or assist the student in calling Counseling Services at (617) 879-7760. Inform the student that Counseling Services has drop-in hours Monday through Friday, 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

After business hours, in non-emergency situations, assist the student in leaving a phone message with Counseling Services to schedule an appointment. Students can also request Counseling Services appointments via e-mail addressed to nneka.armstead@massart.edu

For all referrals, please communicate by a timely phone call to Counseling Services  the name of the student that you have referred.

VI. List of Helpful Numbers

Counseling Services: (617) 879-7760
Betsy Smith, Director of Counseling: (617) 879-7761
Dean of Students: (617) 879-7711
Jamie Glanton Costello, Dean of Students: (617) 879-7703
Public Safety (emergency): (617) 879-7800
Public Safety (non-emergency): (617) 879-7810