How to Help Others or Refer a Student
Thank you for your care and concern. Your reaching out to the student can have a favorable impact on their decision to seek help.
What should you pay attention to?
The following are basic guidelines on assessing a student’s need for counseling and the steps you can take to refer them to the Counseling Center.
Be alert to signs of difficulty
Signs of difficulty can include:
- Mood: Extreme sadness, anxiety, anger, mood swings
- Physical signs: Deteriorated grooming or physical state; pronounced weight changes; signs of substance use: dilated pupils, unsteady gait, slurred words, liquor on breath
- Performance: Concentration difficulties, deteriorated performance, unexplained lateness or absences
- Behavior: Extreme or inappropriate withdrawal or dependency, extreme changes in overall behavior
- Speech: Irrational or unusually rapid or slow speech; alludes to problems, worthless or guilty feelings, death or suicide
You don’t have to pry to detect such difficulties. Usually students signal their distress quite clearly.
- Take such signs seriously. Don’t disregard what you’ve observed.
- If possible, meet privately with the student. Allow sufficient time for the meeting.
- Point out specifically the signs you’ve observed. Say you’re concerned, and ask what’s wrong:
- “I want to talk to you because I notice you’ve been late recently, you never participate in class anymore, and you seem troubled. I’m concerned about you. What’s happening?”
- Discourage quick dismissals (“I’m fine—it’s nothing.”) Say you really want to know what’s wrong.
- Listen to the student’s explanation. Be open-minded about what you hear.
- Decide if the problem is a false alarm, an “ordinary” problem, or an emergency:
- A false alarm means that the student apparently doesn’t have a problem, or already is in treatment to work on the problem. With false alarms, you needn’t do anything further.
- An “ordinary” problem is anything that troubles the student but falls short of an emergency—the student’s basic safety is not endangered. With ordinary problems assist the student to connect with the Baruch College Counseling Center. (See below)
Inform the student about the Baruch College Counseling Center
Did you know we have professional counselors on campus to help with problems like yours? The Counseling Center is located at the Annex building on the 9th floor. You can call or stop by to schedule an appointment.
If necessary, address the student’s fears about counseling:
- Going to a counselor doesn’t mean you’re crazy or weak. It’s a sign of health to recognize and get help for a problem.
- All sessions at the Counseling Center are confidential and free of charge.
- The counselors at the Counseling Center are trained professionals. They’ve worked with thousands of students.
Myths and Truths about the Counseling Center
Share the following myths and truths about the Counseling Center with the student.
Crisis and Emergency Services
Respect the student’s decision about counseling. If the student doesn’t go now, he or she may reconsider later.
If the student is hesitant to connect with the Counseling Center, and you are still concerned, fill out a Student of Concern form so Baruch’s Campus Intervention Team can reach out to the student and connect them to support services.
Crisis and Emergency services are available if a student is experiencing an emergency where they need immediate help.