Helping a Distressed Student - Signs of Distress

• Mood Changes
  • Feelings of helplessness or hopelessness
  • Lack of energy
  • Increasingly sad or depressed mood
  • Very flat; apathetic
  • Increased irritability, anger, or restlessness
  • Increased anxiousness, panic, or persistent worrying
• Behaviror Changes
  • Classes:
    • Extreme procrastination and/or poorly prepared schoolwork
    • Infrequent class attendance
    • Inability to concentrate
    • Falling asleep in class
    • Disturbing material in academic assignments
  • Impaired speech or disjointed thoughts
  • Hyperactivity or very rapid speech
  • Strange or bizarre behavior
• Interpersonal Changes
  • Social withdrawal, isolation
  • Unable to enjoy activities that are normally enjoyable
  • Having trouble leaving one's residence hall, house, or apartment
  • Threatens, talks about, or hints at doing harm to self or others
• Physcial Changes
  • Sleeping too much or too little, erratic sleep pattern
  • Always tired or very restless
  • Changes in eating habits and weight
  • Apathy about appearance, health, or personal hygiene

Certain events can trigger a crisis. What may seem of minor importance to one person can be extremely distressing to another. Be alert to how someone who has experienced one of the following events is reacting to them:

• Breakup or rejection in an important relationship
• An abusive or controlling relationship or incident of sexual assault
• Loss of an important opportunity, goal, or status
• Academic failure
• Facing legal or administrative sanctions and consequences
• Death of a loved one

See Acute Warning Signs of Suicidality for learning more about what might signal a more emergent problem.