Due to your regular interaction with students, instructors are in a pivotal position to help those who may be struggling emotionally or academically by directing them to the appropriate on-campus resources.
We encourage you to look for these possible warning signs of distress:
- Change in performance or behavior
- Excessive absence or tardiness
- Undue aggressiveness or abrasive behavior
- Exaggerated emotional response that is obviously inappropriate to the situation
- Depressed or lethargic mood
- Behavior indicating loss of contact with reality
- Agitation, irritability, or nervousness
- Bizarre, alarming, or dangerous behavior
- Verbal or written references to suicide, homicide, or assault
- Feelings of helplessness or hopelessness
- Marked change in personal hygiene
If you observe or are told about any of the signs listed above, please do the following:
- Speak with the student privately
- Express your concern in behavioral, non-judgmental terms
- Listen carefully
- Explore options
- Validate experiences and acknowledge concerns
- Refer to applicable resources and make referrals to the appropriate campus department(s)
- Maintain clear/consistent boundaries
- Document the interaction or incident
When talking with students in distress, please do not:
- Do not promise confidentiality
- Do not judge or criticize
- Do not involve yourself beyond the limits of your skill
- Do not ignore the unusual behavior
- Do not make this problem your own
Politically Charged News Support
The UW Counseling Center has created resources for faculty, staff, and students, to help navigate politically charged happenings during the Fall quarter. The powerpoint presentation, Supporting Students & Each Other, provides an overview of stressors and impact students may be experiencing, ways to provide emotional support and helpful responses, describes campus and personal mental health resources, and includes a links to our Stress Toolkit and a handout on addressing emotionally or politically charged news with students.
Trauma- Responsive Teaching
One of the things that any instructor can assume is that there’s a good chance that at least one of their students will be dealing with the effects of a traumatic experience. This is important to remember because trauma has tangible – and often invisible – effects on students’ learning. Trauma-responsive teaching acknowledges and seeks to mitigate the impact trauma has on students’ learning. Click here to learn more.
Curriculum Support
If you are seeking other ways of integrating well-being into your curriculum or your teaching, the Resilience Lab has a Well-Being for Life and Learning Guidebook. This resource gives faculty and instructors concrete ideas for supporting the whole student.
University Resources
Listed below are University resources that can help you address the needs of students who may be experiencing academic or emotional issues.
Counseling and mental health services
UW’s counseling and mental health services provide students counseling and treatment for a variety of difficulties including depression, anxiety, adjustment to campus, and relationship problems. Currently, all services are being provided over the phone or via video conferencing.
- mentalhealth.uw.edu
- For after hours or urgent help: Students may call 1.866.743.7732 to connect with UW’s partner My SSP.
- During office hours: Students may call 206.543.1240 to speak with UW counseling and mental health staff:
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Tuesday: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Office of the Vice President for Student Life
The Student Life VP’s office encompasses programs and resources that help students experiencing challenges related to mental health, physical health, social, adjustment, or other issues. The office also advises students, faculty, and administrators with student-related concerns including student conduct, and helps triage cross-campus care teams that intervene with students in need.
- slvp@uw.edu
- 206.543.4972
- Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Hall Health Center
Provides primary care, specialty care, and pharmacy services to students. Currently, Hall Health asks that students always call before coming in for care, and may recommend scheduling a video visit using a secure platform.
- https://wellbeing.uw.edu/unit/hall-health/
- Students may call 206.685.1011 to speak with Hall Health staff during office hours:
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Tuesday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
UW Police Department
The UW Police Department is always available at 206.685.8973. UWPD can directly contact on-call staff from the UW Counseling Center, Student Life, and others as necessary.
SafeCampus
UW SafeCampus is also available at 206.685.7233 to anonymously discuss safety and well-being concerns for yourself or others, and serves the entire UW community. SafeCampus staff answers calls and emails (safecampus@uw.edu), Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. excluding UW holidays. If you are calling after hours, please see our after-hours resource guide.
Submitting a Student Care Report
The Student Care Report is a way that faculty and staff can make a referral to the Student Care Team. The Care Report is an appropriate option if you have concerns about a student or situation but are unsure how to respond, who to contact, and/or you would benefit from consultation on how to support a student or respond to a classroom situation.
