Signs of Distress

Parents, friends, faculty and staff are often the first individuals to notice signs of distress in students. The following may indicate that a student is in distress and in need of help:

Significant change in appearance (including hygiene, weight gain/loss), personality, attitude, mood, or behavior
Impairment in academic, social, &/or job performance & functioning
Change in sleep (oversleeping or insomnia)
Change in appetite (eating too much or very little)
Social withdrawal/isolation
Irritability
Increase in or frequent use of substances (alcohol and/or other drugs)
Problems with concentration, energy and/or motivation
Odd/bizarre speech or reasoning
Aggressive, violent behavior or threats
Attention-getting behavior
Talk of/fascination with death or dying
Feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, worthlessness, purposelessness
Direct/indirect threats of harm to self

How to Help a Fellow Deac

Talking to a student in distress

Encourage the person to share her/his concerns and problems with you. Share your concerns and observations with her/him, and invite honesty and openness with you about what is going on. Avoid judgmental, condescending, or minimizing statements (e.g., “You should be over that by now,” “That shouldn’t bother you,” etc.). Check out our Giving Social Support handout for more information on how to help a loved one!

When supporting a loved one, know you are not alone. In addition to the support the UCC can offer, there are several resources that can help you and your loved one thrive. See below for a list of on-campus resources.