How Do I Help?
Once you have recognized a distressed student, your decision about your options or path to support the student may be influenced by:
- Your level of experience
- The nature or severity of the problem
- Your ability to give time to the situation
- A variety of other personal factors
You will not be taking on the role of a counselor.
You need only listen, care and offer resource/referral information.
When interacting with the student, consider the following examples:
Show you care; connect on a feeling level; listen; communicate with a positive tone.
鈥淚鈥檓 concerned about you and noticed you haven鈥檛 been sleeping, eating, going to class, etc.鈥�
鈥淗ow are you feeling?鈥� 鈥淗ow are things going for you?鈥�
鈥淚鈥檝e noticed lately that you . . .鈥�
Be aware of your nonverbal communication, including tone of voice, facial expression, body posture, eye contact, etc.
Listen with respect. Reflect back their feelings and paraphrase.
鈥淵ou mentioned . . . Tell me more about that.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 glad you called.鈥�
鈥淲hat I hear you say is that you are in a great deal of pain and feel hopeless.鈥�
鈥淚 want to make sure I understand what you are saying. Your concerns are . . . ?鈥�
Ask open-ended questions that deal directly with the issues the student describes without judgment.
鈥淲hat problems has that situation caused you?鈥�
鈥淲hat concerns do you have based upon what you just told me?鈥�
鈥淲hat do you think you need to do to get back on a healthy path?鈥�
Ask about suicide directly.
鈥淪ometimes when people feel sad, they have thoughts of killing themselves. Have you had such thoughts?鈥�
鈥淎re you thinking of killing yourself?鈥�
鈥淗ave you considered suicide?鈥� 鈥淗ow would you go about it?鈥濃�淲hen would you do that?鈥�
Remember, asking about suicide does NOT put the idea in people鈥檚 minds.
Support the student in developing concrete action steps, suggesting resources and referrals.
鈥淚鈥檓 concerned about you and your well-being, and I want you to get the help you need.鈥�
鈥淏ecause I care and this is outside my area of expertise, I suggest you work with an expert who is trained to help in these situations.鈥�
鈥淲hat would help now?鈥�
鈥淲ho can, who usually helps?鈥�
Get assistance. Avoid trying to be the only lifeline for this person. Seek out resources even if it means breaking a confidence.
鈥淲e have a Counseling Assistance Program for Students. Let鈥檚 call right now.鈥�
鈥淲e have Success Coaches who can help with your situation. Let鈥檚 walk over to their office.鈥�
Counseling Assistance Program for Students: 402-228-8135 ext. 1135, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-TALK
Call 911 if this is an acute crisis.
What Not To Do
- Do not promise to keep the person鈥檚 thoughts of suicide a secret. You can say: 鈥淚 care about your well-being and safety, so I can鈥檛 agree to keep this to myself. I need to talk to someone who can help us think this through.鈥� Legally, conversations between faculty and students are not considered confidential.
- Do not leave the person alone.
- Do not offer simple solutions.
- Do not suggest drugs or alcohol as a solution.
Report Online
If a person is an immediate threat themselves or someone else or is incapable of caring for themselves, CALL 911.
