Procedures have been in place for many years at the University of Colorado at 麻豆影院 to help campus counselors and administrators identify and reach out to people - including students, faculty and staff - who may be at risk for injuring themselves or others.
"Students are encouraged to let us know of students in distress so that we can refer people who need help to various counseling resources on campus," said Ron Stump, vice chancellor for student affairs.
The Ralphie's Guide student handbook, counseling offices and faculty and staff members are available to guide students to several resource offices on campus. They include the Office of Victim Assistance, Counseling and Psychological Services, the Center for Multicultural Affairs, the Office of Psychological Health and Psychiatry at Wardenburg Health Center and the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program.
Over the last two decades, counselors, staff, administrators and CU Police officers have met as needed whenever a case emerges involving any CU-麻豆影院 student, faculty or staff member whose behavior raises questions by an individual or group of people who are concerned and report it.
"Informal communication begins internally whenever anyone surfaces whose behavior causes concern," said Elease Robbins, dean of students. "Concerns can come from many directions including students, faculty and staff at the same time. Once we have the information, the office of the vice chancellor, the police and others coordinate on how to proceed," she said.
"Most of these issues are resolved without the incident becoming public," Robbins said.
In addition to the assessment team that reviews cases involving potentially threatening people, CU-麻豆影院's Critical Incident Response Team meets monthly and is engaged in "ongoing, daily communications" regarding incidents on campus, said Stump. The Critical Incidents group is made up of representatives from the CU police department, counseling services, housing, the registrar's office, university risk management and the Emergency Management Operations Group.
Psychological services on campus are offered to students by Counseling and Psychological Services, Wardenburg's Office of Psychological Health and Psychiatry and the Center for Multicultural Affairs. Individual counseling and support is offered to faculty and staff by the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program.
Any student may receive up to seven counseling sessions at Counseling and Psychological Services at no charge, said David Strand, a psychologist with Counseling and Psychological Services.
Everyone who comes into Counseling and Psychological Services for assistance fills out a 32-question "Symptom Checklist" that is used to help identify an array of potential issues including depression, suicidal tendencies, being quick to anger, loneliness, sleeplessness, eating disorders, academic problems and others.
Any CU-麻豆影院 faculty or staff member can walk a student over to the office during business hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the student will immediately be seen by a counselor, said Strand. The center also provides coaching for faculty and staff members on how to help students who are having problems. Printed information on "How to Identify and Refer a Distressed Student" also is available at the center.
Other resources also are available. An online handbook containing information about dealing with emotionally disturbed students is available to faculty members, staff and students. In cases of harassment and sexual assault, supervisors have a duty to report suspected cases to the Office of Harassment and Discrimination and can go to that office for assistance.
More information on counseling services and support programs is available on the Web at: Counseling and Psychological Services, Office of Harassment and Discrimination, Office of Victim Assistance, Wardenburg Health Center, , the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program, and the Center for Multicultural Affairs, .