Bryan College Crisis Guide

CRISIS GUIDE B R Y A N C O L L E G E F A C U LT Y & S T A F F

A QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE FOR RECOGNIZING, RESPONDING TO, AND REFERRING DISTRESSED STUDENTS

RE CO G NIZE

R ES P ON D

REFER

ST E P O NE

STEP TWO

ST EP T HREE

EACH SITUATION IS UNIQUE. USE THE TIPS AND DECISION TREE TO DETERMINE THE MOST APPROPRIATE RESPONSE.

USE THE LIST OF RESOURCES ON BACK COVER TO REFER THE STUDENT TO THE MOST APPROPRIATE CAMPUS RESOURCE.

RECOGNIZE INDICATORS OF DISTRESS.

COMMON INDICATORS LISTED WITHIN FOLDER, STUDENTS MAY PRESENT WITH INDICATORS NOT LISTED.

RESPOND APPROPRIATELY.

UPDATED 09/2021

REFER THE STUDENT.

RECOGNIZE | RESPOND | REFER

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RECOGNIZE

I N D I C AT O R S O F D I S T R E S S E D S T U D E N T S LOOK FOR GROUPINGS, FREQUENCY, AND SEVERITY OF BEHAVIORS, NOT SOLELY ISOLATED SYMPTOMS

ACADEMIC SUDDEN DECLINE IN QUALITY OF WORK OR GRADES FREQUENTLY MISSED CLASSES AND ASSIGNMENTS DISTURBING CONTENT IN WRITING OR PRESENTATIONS CLASSROOM DISRUPTIONS CONSISTENTLY SEEKING PERSONAL RATHER THAN PROFESSIONAL ADVICE MULTIPLE REQUESTS FOR EXTENSIONS/SPECIAL CONSIDERATION (A CHANGE FROM PRIOR FUNCTIONING)

DOESN’T RESPOND TO REPEATED REQUESTS FOR CONTACT/MEETING

PHYSICAL MARKED CHANGES IN PHYSICAL APPEARANCE (SUCH AS POOR GROOMING/HYGIENE SUDDEN WEIGHT LOSS/GIAN, ETC.)

STRANGE OR BIZARRE BEHAVIOR INDICATING LOSS OF CONTACT WITH REALITY VISIBLY INTOXICATED OR SMELLING OF ALCOHOL OR MARIJUANA RAPID SPEECH OR MANIC BEHAVIOR DEPRESSED OR LETHARGIC MOOD OR FUNCTIONING OBSERVABLE SIGNS OF INJURY

PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF-DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL DISTRESS (SUCH AS FAMILY PROBLEMS, FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES, ASSAULT, DISCRIMINATION, LEGAL DIFFICULTIES, ETC.)

UNUSUAL/DISPROPORTIONATE EMOTIONAL RESPONSE TO EVENTS/LACK OF EMOTION EXCESSIVE TEARFULNESS, PANIC REACTIONS VERBAL ABUSE (SUCH AS TAUNTING, BADGERING, INTIMIDATION, ETC.)

EXPRESSIONS OF CONCERN ABOUT THE STUDENT BY PEERS

(SUCH AS FACIAL BRUISING OR CUTS, ETC.)

EXTREME SOCIAL WITHDRAWAL

TROUBLE EATING OR SLEEPING

CONFUSION OR LOSS OF CONTACT WITH REALITY

CHRONIC PAIN, CONSISTENT PHYSICAL COMPLAINTS

SAFETY RISK VERBAL, WRITTEN, OR IMPLIED REFERENCE TO SUICIDE, HOMICIDE, ASSAULT, OR SELF-INJURIOUS BEHAVIORS UNPROVOKED ANGER OR HOSTILITY/PHYSICAL VIOLENCE (SUCH AS SHOVING, GRABBING, ASSAULTING, USE OF A WEAPON, ETC.)

ACADEMIC ASSIGNMENTS DOMINATED BY THEMES OF EXTREME HOPELESSNESS, HELPLESSNESS, ISOLATION, RAGE, DESPAIR, VIOLENCE, OR SELF-INJURY STALKING OR HARASSING COMMUNICATING THREATS/ DISTURBING COMMENTS VIA EMAIL, CORRESPONDENCE, TEXTING, OR PHONE CALL

RECOGNIZE | RESPOND | REFER

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REFER

FOLLOW THE DECISION TREE USE THE TREE TO DETERMINE WHO YOU ARE TO CONTACT WHEN YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT A STUDENT

IS THE STUDENT A DANGER TO THEMSELVES/OTHERS OR DOES THE STUDENT NEED SOME OTHER ASSISTANCE?

YES

THE STUDENT’S CONDUCT IS CLEARLY DANGEROUS OR THREATENING, INCLUDING HARM TO SELF OR HARM TO OTHERS.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND RESOURCES, SEE THE PROVIDED FACULTY & STAFF QUICK GUIDE.

CALL 911

AFTER HOURS URGENT RESPONSE

423.521.5454

NO

I’M NOT SURE

I AM NOT CONCERNED FOR ANYONE’S IMMEDIATE S A F E TY, B U T T H E ST U D E N T I S H AV I N G SIGNIFICANT ACADEMIC A N D/O R PERSONAL ISSUES AND COULD USE SOME SUPPORT.

THE STUDENT IS WITH ME CURRENTLY AND SHOWS SIGNS OF DISTRESS, BUT IT IS NOT CLEAR HOW SERIOUS IT IS. I FEEL UNEASY AND/OR REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE STUDENT. THE STUDENT IS NOT WITH ME CURRENTLY, BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THEY SAID (IN AN EMAIL/CALL) OR WHAT THEY DID (ACTED BIZARRELY, WERE AGGRESSIVE/DISRUPTIVE) OR HOW THEY LOOKED (UNKEMPT, UNWASHED, OR AS IF DRUGGED/DRUNK).

REFER STUDENT TO CAMPUS RESOURCES AS APPROPRIATE. REFER TO PRINTED HANDOUT

DURING BUSINESS HOURS CALL URGENT RESPONSE 423.521.5454 OR COUNSELING SERVICES 423.775.7450, LATIMER 300 CONTACT THE URGENT RESPONSE NUMBER 423.521.5454 AND COMPLETE CARE REPORT.

COUNSELING SERVICES

423.775.7450 NATIONAL SUICIDE HOTLINE

1.800.273.8255

SEXUAL ASSAULT SUPPORT

1.800.641.3434

RECOGNIZE | RESPOND | REFER

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RESPOND

D E T E R M I N E M O S T A P P R O P R I AT E R E S P O N S E

STAY SAFE

CALL 911 IF THERE IS AN IMMINENT DANGER TO THE STUDENT, YOURSELF, OR ANYONE ELSE.

STAY CALM

TAKE A FEW DEEP BREATHS TO CALM YOURSELF. USE A CALM VOICE WHEN TALKING AND ASKING QUESTIONS.

TAKE YOUR TIME

IF THIS IS NOT AN IMMINENTLY DANGEROUS SITUATION, TAKE TIME TO THINK THROUGH WHAT MIGHT BE THE MOST HELPFUL NEXT STEP.

SEEK CONSULTATION

YOU ARE NOT ALONE. ASK THOSE AROUND YOU FOR HELP. CONSULT WITH A COLLEAGUE. CALL ANOTHER OFFICE ON CAMPUS.

TITLE IX | MERCER 223 | 423.775.7265

USE ACTIVE LISTENING

ASK DIRECT QUESTIONS

MAKE EYE CONTACT, GIVE YOUR FULL ATTENTION. RESTATE WHAT STUDENTS SAY TO MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT IS CASING THE DISTRESS AND/ OR WHAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR HELP WITH DON’T BE AFRAID TO DIRECTLY ASK THE STUDENT IF THEY ARE HAVING THOUGHTS OF HARMING THEMSELVES OR OTHERS (BY ASKING THIS, YOU ARE NOT INSTILLING THE THOUGHTS/IDEA)

GIVE CONCRETE HELP

R E P O R T S E X U A L O R G E N D E R- B A S E D H A R A S S M E N T O R M I S CO N D U C T (SUCH AS SEXUAL ASSAULT, EXPLOITATION, STALKING, DATING/DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, ETC.) TITLE IX INVESTIGATES CONCERNS, AS WELL AS PROVIDES RESOURCES, SUPPORT, AND ACCOMMODATIONS.

HELP GET THEM TO THE NEXT STEP. (CONTACT THE ACADEMIC ADVISOR WITH THE STUDENT TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT; HELP THEM INQUIRE ABOUT COUNSELING. BRYAN.EDU/HEALTHAND-WELLNESS/COUNSELING-SERVICES/ REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT)