How to Respond to Distressed Students

The best ways to respond depend upon the urgency of the situation. For students who are having difficulty, but seem able to cope fairly well, you may choose not to intervene, to limit your interaction to the classroom issue, or to deal with it on a more personal level. If you judge a situation to be more urgent or an emergency (e.g. threat to safety/high risk cues), you can call SCC to consult with a clinician or direct the student to the Emergency Room with the assistance of the campus police.