Identifying and Responding to
Students in Distress
Alicia A Bourque, Ph.D.
Director, Counseling & Health Services
Agenda
 Quick
facts about College Mental
Health
 UCC services and trends
 Counseling indications
 Disturbing and threatening behavior
 Confidentiality
Q & A
Quick Facts about National Trends in
College Students and Mental Health

Nearly half of college students report feeling
so depressed that they have trouble
functioning.
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Suicide is the second leading cause of death
for college students.
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More students are coming to college with
mental health diagnoses. Increased support
services provided at a younger age so that
academic record is not adversely affected.
UCC Services

Individual, couples, and group counseling
 Substance abuse screenings
 ADHD evaluations and counseling
 Limited psychiatric medication
management appointments
 24/7/365 after hours crisis counseling
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Accessed via LUPD at 504.865.3434
Outreach programming/Res hall adoption
UCC Trends
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20% of Loyola’s student population in any
given year
 Average 3500 appointments per year
Anxiety Disorders
Mood Disorders (e.g., Depression, Bipolar)
ADHD
Partner Relational
Crises
Grief
UCC Response to Increased
Demand

Daily crisis walk-in hour
 Suicidal/Homicidal
 Recent loss
 Recent trauma
 Waitlist
 Community-based referrals
 Increased group offerings
 Emotional Wisdom
 Sexual Assault Survivors
Indications for Counseling
Changes in Mood or Behavior
 Anxiety and Depression
 References to Suicide
 Violence and Aggression
 Traumatic Changes in Personal Relationships
 Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse
 Academic Problems
 Excessive Absences
 Poor Hygiene
 Crying in class
 Repeated requests for special accommodations
Identifying and Responding to
Disturbing and Disruptive Behavior
 Can
be useful to distinguish between
student behavior that is disturbing
versus disruptive
 Behavior can be both disturbing and
disruptive
 Threatening behavior
Identifying Disturbing Behavior
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A student who jokes in class about killing himself,
A student who perspires profusely when giving a talk in front of
class,
A student who discloses that her mother was diagnosed with
terminal cancer,
A student who seems to work harder than most students but can’t
pass an exam,
A student who appears to be losing significant weight yet speaks
with pride about how little he/she eats,
A student whose writing appears disjointed and fragmented, as
though he/she cannot maintain a logical sequence in his/her
thought process,
A student who reports that FBI agents are following him/her
around campus.
Interventions for Disturbing Behavior

Initiate a conversation with the student about the
behavior that concerns you
 Listen to the student
 Consult with other professionals on campus
 Refer to the Care & Concern Committee


Robert Reed, 504.865.3737, [email protected]
Refer to other professionals on campus
 Students with suicide risk factors should be
referred for professional help
How to Refer
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Get to know the referral sources
Use a direct approach with the student and express
your concern for his or her welfare
Anticipate some concerns about seeking counseling
Create a positive expectation
To make an appointment, student can call
504.865.3835 or stop by our office in the Danna
Center, second floor, room 208
Leave the option open, except in emergencies, for the
student to accept or refuse counseling
Ask the student at a later date what action he/she has
taken
Threatening Behavior
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A student who implies or makes a direct threat
to harm themselves or others.
A student who displays a firearm or weapon.
A student who physically confronts/attacks
another student.
A student who stalks or harasses a faculty
member.
A student who sends threatening emails,
letters, and other correspondence to a staff
member.
Interventions for Threatening
Behavior

Immediately call LUPD at 504.865.3434.
 Contact Counseling Director for notification,
advice and support at 504.865.3835.
 Consult with the UCC to debrief and assist you,
staff members and other students.
 UCC staff is trained in confidentiality, if you have
a concern about sharing information with a
counselor, please express it and the counselor
can help set the limit.
Quick Facts about
the UCC
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Staffed by four FT professionals and one PT
psychiatrist
No additional charge to students
All counseling services are confidential
Hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 8:30
a.m. - 4:45 p.m.
No session limits
Emergency after-hours crisis services are
available on-call through LUPD at
504.865.3434, 24/7/365
Confidentiality
Professional ethics, state and federal law
 Faculty members often have an
understandable desire to know if a
student who has been referred has
actually attended and made any
progress
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Contact Information
Q&A
Alicia A. Bourque, Ph.D.
Director, Counseling & Health Services
504.865.3835
[email protected]