Responding to Student Emergencies

Emergency situations are rare; however, immediate and decisive action is necessary when they do occur. Generally, a psychological emergency involves one or more of the following conditions:

• A suicidal attempt, gesture, threat, or stated intention
• A homicidal attempt, gesture, threat, or stated intention, property destruction, criminal acts
• Behavior posing a threat to self
• Behavior posing a threat to others (outburst, aggression, hostility)
• Loss of contact with reality (hallucination, hearing/seeing things
• Inability to care for oneself

In the event of one of these emergency situations, it is helpful to follow the guidelines below:

• Stay calm, as this will help you respond more effectively, and also help to reduce the student’s anxiety or agitation
• If possible, provide a quiet, private place for the student to rest while further steps are taken
• Talk to the student in a clear, straight-forward manner
• If the student appears to be dangerous to self or others, do not leave the student unattended
• Make arrangements for appropriate intervention or aid

The primary campus resources for responding to mental health emergencies are the UCC and/or Security. The following options are available to you:

• Phone consultation with a UCC staff member is available – (585) 275-3113
• You can walk the student over to the Counseling Center, Third Floor UHS Building, 738 Library Road, for an emergency consultation/appointment with a counselor during the hours that we are here
• If the student is unusually aggressive or otherwise unmanageable call Security immediately: x13 or (585) 275-3333

Be prepared to provide security or UCC with as much information as possible about the student and the situation.

Guide Table of Content

• Typical Concerns for UR Students
• What You Should Know About Student Problems
• Symptoms of Distressed or Distressing Students
• Responding to Distressed or Distressing Students
• Making a Referral to the UR Counseling Center
• Responding to Student Emergencies
• The UR Counseling Center
• Information About Confidentiality
• Mandated Risk Assessment
• Other Campus Referral Sources
• Academic Faculty: Classroom Climate and Prevention
• Responding After a Tragedy: An In-The-Classroom Guide

Addendum

• The Grieving Student
• The Anxious/Shy Student
• The Student Who May Have an Eating Disorder
• The Demanding Student
• The Dependent/Passive Student
• The Depressed Student
• The Student in Poor Contact with Reality
• The Student Suspected of Substance Abuse or Addiction
• The Victim of Stalking
• The Victim of an Abusive Dating Relationship
• The Victim of a Hate Incident
• The Victim of Hazing
• The Student Who Has Been Sexually Harassed (Assaulted)
• The Suicidal Student
• The Suspicious Student
• The Verbally Aggressive Student
• The Violent Student
• The Absent/Disappeared From Class Student
• Responding to Students with Transition Issues
• Responding to the Student with Choice of Major or Career Concerns