Faculty and Staff Guide to Assisting Students in Distress
Dear Kean Community,
Kean University is committed to providing support for all members of its community, whether you are a student, faculty, or staff member. As part of that support, we will continue to ensure that you have access to all Kean community resources that can inform your responses to unanticipated challenges. As a member of the faculty or staff, this may include encountering students in distress.
Students in Distress
During your work, you may be required to provide guidance or assistance to a student who is struggling with interpersonal difficulties, feelings of being overwhelmed, and/or mental health concerns. Each unique student has their way of reaching out for help. Sometimes, symptoms of distress are not outwardly communicated, but are nevertheless present. Some potentially concerning signs of distress can include:
- increased absenteeism
- changes in work productivity
- signs of anxiety or depression
- appearance and/or hygiene changes
- verbal and non-verbal disturbances
- exaggerated emotional responses that are inappropriate to the situation
- evidence of substance use
Guiding students to our support services can assist students in overcoming their current challenges, as well as help prevent future difficulties while improving life quality and academic outcomes. In regard to students enduring family strife, environmental stressors, and/or mental health concerns, faculty and staff can provide quality support options for their students. In fact, you are usually the first professional who can offer students assistance options.
Faculty and Staff Roles
Faculty and staff usually serve as student facing members of our community, which may entail identifying students in distress. Absorbing student self-disclosures regarding personal difficulties can be confusing and even overwhelming. Kean Counseling Center professionals have prepared a Faculty & Staff Guide to Students in Distress to clarify how you can best respond. Kean Counseling Center is available to discuss students of concern.
Local & National Resources
Local Police Emergency: 911
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988
Trinitas Regional Medical Center: (908) 994-7131
Homeless 24 Hours Hotline: (908) 756-6061
Homeless Outreach of Bridgeway: (908) 289-7330
National Alliances on Mental Health (NAMI) - NJ
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255
National Human Trafficking Resource Center: 1-888-373-7888
College is a time of great transition, one that can lead to increased stress, mental health concerns, increased financial obligations, loneliness, and academic pressures. However, these challenges can also be successfully addressed. Together, we can coordinate our efforts to best ensure that our students realize their academic potential while creating a meaningful college experience.