Resources for Faculty and Staff
The Counseling and Psychological Services Center is happy to support faculty and staff as you take care of yourselves and assist your students who may be struggling with mental health concerns.
Managing the stressors of your work life and your personal life can be emotionally draining. A variety of options are available for you to help maintain your own mental health.
- TAO (Therapy Assistance Online)
A platform of short educational and practice modules for skill-building in subjects such as mindfulness, depression, anxiety management, and other areas.
- Faculty and Staff Groups
Consider joining groups reserved specifically for faculty and staff members to receive support and learn mindfulness meditation skills. These groups are available until further notice as a special extension of services available during the pandemic.
- WSU Employee Assistance Program
Free life assistance counseling services are available for employees & staff.
- Local Referral Options
- You might also choose to utilize your mental health insurance benefit. Some potential local resources include resources for faculty/staff of color.
- Additional options can also be searched on psychologytoday.com where users can limit a search to a particular insurance carrier, therapy type or zip code.
- Please consult your insurance benefits to confirm any provider's current coverage status and to find further options.
It is not uncommon for faculty or staff members to encounter a student in an urgent situation. Working together is the best way to ensure that students get the support and help that they need. The following will help you recognize signs and identify appropriate campus liaisons.
A Student In An Urgent Or Crisis Situation May Include:
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Expresses bizarre thoughts or incoherent statements
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Exhibits intense or out-of-control rage
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Threatens to harm him/herself or another
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Becomes physically aggressive or intimidating
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Reports having a weapon
In such circumstances, contact Campus Police for assistance. You should not handle difficult situations like this on your own.
Concerned About A Student In Distress?
Often faculty or staff want to share their concern about a student in distress to ensure that students get the support and help that they need. The appropriate university administrators to first reach out to for consultation and collaboration if needed, are in the Dean of Students’ office, not CPSC. Please contact them at (801) 626-7256 or deanofstudents@weber.edu
*See more information below for general tips about helping students.
As faculty members at Weber State University, you spend a lot of time with students. You often get to know them well through their participation in class, their assignments, and papers, and the time they spend in your office. You are in an excellent position to recognize when a student has a potential emotional or mental health problem, and you likely have questions or concerns about what to do in these situations. The following information may be helpful to you. CPSC staff are also available for general consultation about student mental health issues.
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Identifying Students In Distress
Students can experience emotional distress for a variety of reasons. Many students are able to get through stressful times on their own without significant impact on their emotional or behavioral functioning. Some students, however, have more difficulty coping with distressing situations and/or struggle with mental illnesses. In such cases, you may see some of the following symptoms:
- Academic Concerns:
- Uncharacteristically poor work
- Repeated requests for extensions
- Disruptive behavior in class
- Alarming content in written work
- Difficulty concentrating
- Excessive absences
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Interpersonal Concerns:
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Behavioral Concerns:
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Changes in personal hygiene
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Fatigue; falling asleep in class
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Irritability, agitation, or restlessness
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Inappropriate responses and/or disjointed thoughts
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Intense, dramatic, or volatile emotion
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Anhedonia: Loss of interest in pleasurable activities
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Physical harm to self
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Verbal or written references to distress, including suicidal/homicidal
thoughts or plans
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Helping Students In Distress
Over the course of a semester, you get to know your students and their typical ways of interacting. If you notice concerning changes, trust your gut and consider approaching the student to offer support and a referral.
The Following Tips May Be Helpful:
- Talk to the student privately rather than in class or around peers.
- Make sure that you have enough time to express your concerns, listen, and make a referral.
- Listen carefully to what the student says. Both the content and the emotion are important. Your student will feel validated when you listen to both.
- Discuss your observations with the student in a direct and honest manner, and express concern in a non-judgmental way. Respect the student’s value system, even if you do not agree with it.
- Remember your own boundaries. Be clear with the student about limits to your ability to help.
- Do not keep secrets, or promise to do so, if the student is threatening to harm him/herself or others. Contact Campus Police and/or the Dean of Students for assistance.
- Familiarize yourself with campus resources. Knowing about various resources, and sharing your knowledge, may help the student feel more comfortable following through on your recommendations.
- Help the student develop options for action. This could include a referral to CPSC or to other campus resources such as the Student Health Center or Disability Services.
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What Happens At CPSC
CPSC offers limited crisis intervention services. Students in crisis may request to be seen within the same business day. Our reception staff utilizes the Crisis Services screening form to assist students in determining their own level of need and scheduling the appropriate type of appointment. If a crisis appointment is warranted, students meet that day with one of our counselors who will assess the situation, generate a crisis plan if appropriate, and develop a plan for on-going treatment if needed. Such treatment may take place at CPSC or through a community provider.
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Confidentiality
We know you care about your students’ well-being. When you are concerned about a student and make a referral to CPSC, it is natural to want to know what happened. You want to make sure the student is okay. Please rest assured that we do our best to meet the needs of all students referred to our office. But confidentiality laws prevent us from sharing any information without the written consent of the student. If you continue to be concerned, consider following up with the student directly. Many students will respond well to non-intrusive requests for an update. Keep in mind that mental health counseling is a very personal thing, so sometimes students will not want to share any information. We encourage you to respect a student’s privacy.
Remember, if you have on-going concerns about a student, especially regarding his/her safety to self or others, you can always contact the Dean of Students to provide information. If warranted, the Dean of Students will reach out to CPSC for ongoing coordination. Even though we can’t share specific information with you, your observations and concerns are important.
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Would You Like to Learn More?
Contact CPSC
- Student Services Center | Suite 280 | 801-626-6406
- *We are currently closed for construction but still available online.
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Counseling & Psychological Services Center - FAQ
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Printable CPSC Flyers (PDF)
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