Supporting Students in Distress

A response guide for faculty and staff

At times, you鈥檝e probably noticed students who seem to be in distress. You may have worried about them and hoped they鈥檙e getting the help they need 鈥� but not known whether you can or should do anything about it. Your observations and actions can help connect students to the many available resources at SFU.

This Response Guide is intended to help you identify and potentially assist students in distress. You don鈥檛 need to take on the role of a counsellor, but you can play a key role in connecting students with resources and support.

Contact with the Office of Student Support, Rights & Responsibilities for students exhibiting concerning behaviour.

Download Response Guide

Observations that might prompt you to have a conversation with a student

Other students, faculty or staff express concern for the student
A student says (or writes) something that makes you think they are unusually unhappy or angry
You have a sense that the student is struggling with something
You notice specific behaviours of concern, including chronic absenteeism

Connect with the student

If appropriate, talk to the student privately about what you have seen and express your concern
Focus on the specific behaviour(s) you have observed
Be patient and allow the student to speak freely
Avoid giving advice
If the student is agitated, consider having someone else present (or nearby), or

Confidentiality

If you seek advice, you are acting in the best interest of the student. In most cases, you won鈥檛 be required to identify the student. Under BC鈥檚 Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, you can provide identifying details to fellow employees of SFU in situations that could affect anyone鈥檚 health or safety.

Observe and check-in

Here are some examples of behaviours you may observe, and questions you might ask.

If you are unsure, ask SFU Health & Counselling for advice.

alert Emergency help

If this is an emergency or crisis situation, call:

911 immediately
Campus Public Safety: 778-782-4500

Mild to moderate concern

You may have noticed a specific behaviour:

Sudden decline in academic performance
Exaggerated emotional responses
Changes in attendance

You might ask:

鈥淚鈥檝e noticed you haven鈥檛 been attending class regularly, are you okay?鈥�
鈥淗ave you been under a lot of stress lately?鈥�

Moderate to severe concern

You may have noticed a specific behaviour:

Repeated requests for special consideration
Changes in dress/hygiene
Changes in social behaviour

You might ask:

鈥淚鈥檝e noticed you鈥檝e made several requests for accommodation recently, is everything okay?鈥�
鈥淗ave you been under a lot of stress lately?鈥�
鈥淒o you feel unable to cope?鈥�

Severe concern

You may have noticed a specific behaviour:

Suspected drug/alcohol misuse
Behaviour that is violent, destructive or threatening to self or others

You might ask:

鈥淗ave you felt that life is not worth living?鈥�
鈥淗ave you had any thoughts of harming yourself or others?鈥�
鈥淎re you thinking of killing yourself?鈥�

Reflect and refer

Consider the student鈥檚 responses, and the appropriate referral. Keep in mind that students may choose to decline support, unless they are a risk to themselves or others.

Mild to moderate concern

If the student鈥檚 response suggests:

that they are having personal or relationship problems, academic concerns, depression or anxiety

Encourage the student to seek support in the near future, but don鈥檛 insist.

Tell the student that Health & Counselling Services and My SSP. Provide and/or refer them to other services, such as:

Academic Advising
International Services for Students
Interfaith Centre
Centre for Accessible Learning

You鈥檒l find a full list of services at sfu.ca/mental-health.

Follow up with the student.

Moderate to severe concern

If the student鈥檚 response suggests:

that they may have experienced sexual assault or another traumatic event
that they may be having suicidal thoughts
that they are having difficulty coping, but there is not an urgent concern of harm to self or others

Encourage the student to seek immediate counselling support, but don鈥檛 insist.

Call Health & Counselling Services and ask to speak to a Mental Health Nurse or Counsellor for information and referral support.

Let the student know about 24-hour crisis lines:

Vancouver Crisis Line: 604-872-3311
My SSP: 1-844-451-9700

For sexual assault support, refer to this site and help the student find information on their options for support and referrals.

Severe concern

If the student鈥檚 response suggests:

the student may be a threat or risk to self or others

Call 911.

If you judge that the student is at imminent risk of attempting suicide, do not leave them alone.

Call 911 and if at SFU also call Campus Public Safety at 778-782-4500 to help direct emergency services.

Further resources

Download My SSP

My SSP is a service contracted by SFU to offer free, confidential, 24/7 counselling support and wellness resources 尤物视频 graduate and undergraduate students. It is available by an app that you can download to your phone from the Google Play or Apple store.

My SSP can also be used by faculty and staff to receive professional support as they support students through challenging situations.

Hours: Available 24/7

Phone: 1-844-451-9700 (011-416-380-6578 from outside North America)

Download Now

Health & Counselling (HCS)

Contact us for advice. If you are calling from Surrey or Vancouver campus, please say so. There are options specific to those campuses.

Hours
Monday to Friday, 9:30AM 鈥� 4:30PM

Phone
778-782-4615

View website >

SOS/SID Canvas course

Health and Counselling Services Support Over Suicide & Students In Distress (SOS/SID) canvas course is a professional development opportunity open to students, staff, and faculty. Participants will learn how to recognize distress and suicide risk, and when it's time to refer students to seek out mental health support.

Campus Security

Security staff will assess the situation. They may provide advice or call 911 if police or an ambulance is required.

Hours
Available 24/7

Phone
778-782-4500

Recognize, Render and Redirect

Hosted by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, this video presentation by Dr. Maria-Lucia Di Placito aims to better equip faculty members with the tools they need to support student mental health.

Vancouver Crisis Line

Hours
Available 24/7

Distress Line
9-8-8

Sexual Violence Support & Prevention Office (SVSPO)

A trauma-informed and survivor-centered service which offers support to campus community members impacted by sexual violence, regardless of when or where the incident took place. Offers confidential support, information, and referrals as well as educational programming and initiatives.

Phone
778-782-7233

Learn more >

The Office of Student Support, Rights & Responsibilities

Provides consultation services, support, and education to the SFU community on student conduct identification and response.

Phone
778-782-9456

Learn more >

Resources for yourself

Homewood Health

Please take care of yourself and seek support as you need it and contact the - available 24/7.