Campus Care Guide
Part 1: Recognizing Emotional Distress
Pay attention for multiple signs of distress
Consider: Frequency, Duration, and Severity
When in doubt reach out to your MHWS team for consultation and support.
Academic Signs
- Decline in quality of work or grades
- Repeated absences or requests for extensions
- Overly demanding of time and attention
- Disruptive/inappropriate behavior
- Concerning content in writing, presentations, or discussions
Physical Signs
- Poor hygiene or deterioration in appearance
- Noticeable weight loss or gain
- Excessive fatigue, listlessness, or lack of energy
- Swollen or red eyes
Psychological Signs
- Personality changes, "not acting like themselves"
- Mood changes: increased irritability, anxiety, anger, or moodiness
- Difficulty controlling emotions or calming down
- Loss of joy/pleasure
- Feeling hopeless or overwhelmed
Behavioral Signs
- Withdrawal or social isolation
- Impulsive or risky behavior
- Verbal outbursts
- Physical signs of agitation: restlessness, hyperactivity, rapid speech
- Incoherent, confused speech
- Verbal or written statements covering themes such as suicide, death, homicide, acts of violence or other threatening statements
Warning Signs for Suicide
- Direct communication: talking/writing about wanting to die, extreme shame/guilt, and/or being a burden to others
- Indirect communication: vague written or verbal statements about suicide (e.g. "I can't do this anymore," "What's the point?")
- Feelings of emptiness, hopelessness, extreme sadness
- Saying goodbye, tying up "loose ends," giving possessions away
If you are concerned about a student's immediate physical safety, contact Public Safety at 631-451-4242.
To consult about a non-emergency mental health situation contact Mental Health & Wellness Services.
Part 2: Responding to Students in Emotional Distress
It鈥檚 everyone鈥檚 job to care for one another
As a faculty/staff member you are in a position to support a student in need
If you feel uneasy about how to provide support, contact MHWS to discuss an intervention plan
Prepare to Reach Out to the Student
- Become aware of campus resources
- Contact MHWS to discuss your concerns and how to best support the student
- Set aside adequate time for the conversation
Connect with the Student
- This can be done through an email, video conference, phone call, or in person - choose a space that protects the student's privacy
- Clearly and simply express your concerns; focus on the specific behavior of concern
- Try to share your perspective without directly challenging the student
- Listen and validate the student's feelings and experiences
- Normalize how the student is feeling and reflect on how everyone struggles during challenging times
- Explore the student's support system. Do they have supportive friends or family members they can go to?
- Try to foster hope. This is just a moment in time, feelings are fluid and fleeting
Tips for Building Trust
- Be patient
- Listen
- Use open-ended questions
- Validate the student's thoughts and feelings
- Normalize their reactions
- Use the student's language when reflecting their thoughts and feelings
- Use empathy
- Be non-judgmental
- Pay attention to your non-verbal cues
Making a Referral: Mild/Moderate Distress (No safety concerns)
- Recognize and acknowledge your limitations (time, expertise, knowledge of resources)
- Recommend that the student connect with a licensed professional through MHWS
- Provide student with information on the services offered through MHWS
- Inform the student that services are FREE & CONFIDENTIAL
- Direct the student to the MHWS website or provide them with the contact information for their campus MHWS coordinator
- If on campus, offer to walk the student over to MHWS
- Call MHWS to inform them of the referral and provide pertinent information
- Check in with the student later to see how they are doing
- Be aware that some students might be hesitant to reach out. It sometimes takes several referrals before students seek support
Making a Referral: Severe Distress Or Crisis (Safety concerns are present)
- Between 9AM-5PM, Monday through Friday: contact your campus MHWS Coordinator. The coordinator will ask about the situation and provide guidance on appropriate next steps.
- After hours: contact PUBLIC SAFETY 631-451-4242
Part 3: Resource Center
Resources Available to Our Students
We encourage faculty and staff to familiarize yourself with these resources
On Campus Resources
Mental Health and Wellness Services (MHWS)
Email: mentalhealth@sunysuffolk.edu
Ammerman Campus:
Kreiling Hall Room 101
631-451-4040
Eastern Campus:
Peconic Building Room 212
631-548-2650
Grant Campus:
Sagtikos Arts & Science Building Room 122
631-851-6876
Disability Services
Ammerman Campus: disabilitya@sunysuffolk.edu
Eastern Campus: disabilitye@sunysuffolk.edu
Grant Campus: disabilityg@sunysuffolk.edu
Student Health Services
Ammerman Campus: 631-451-4047
Eastern Campus: 631-548-2510
Grant Campus: 631-851-6709
Off Campus Resources
Psychiatric Emergencies
DASH Care Center
24-Hour Crisis Community-Based Site
90 Adams Avenue, Hauppauge, NY 11788
631-952-3333
Call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room
Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence
Victims Information Bureau of Suffolk (VIBS)
24-Hour Hotline
631-360-3606
The Retreat (East End)
24-Hour Hotline
631-329-2200
Crisis Hotlines/Text Lines
RESPONSE Hotline
24-Hour Crisis Counseling
631-751-7500
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (8255) or
Text: START to 741-741
Substance Use/Abuse
Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (LICADD)
24-Hour Hotline
631-979-1700
Download Printable
Campus Care Guide
Confidentiality
Counseling services and records are confidential and are not part of your academic record at 秘色传媒. Protecting the privacy of our students is of the utmost importance to us and the students we serve.
*Note: Email is not a secure form of communication therefore confidentiality cannot be assured. It should be used for scheduling purposes only.
Eligibility
All students enrolled in, and currently attending, credit bearing courses at SUNY Suffolk are eligible for services.