VolAware

Mental Health Awareness, Wellness & Suicide Prevention

Protocol for helping distressed students

The following protocol was developed as a guide for staff and faculty to assist distressed or distressing students. Referral identifiers include, but are not limited to, the following:

Student Behaviors

• Excessive or inappropriate anger
• Behavioral or emotional change
• Withdrawal
• Change in hygiene or appearance
• Alcohol or drug abuse
• Expressing unusual thoughts
• Exhibiting unusual behaviors
• Decline in academic performance

Faculty/Staff Reacactions

• Feeling uncomfortable or uneasy
• Feeling alarmed or frightened
• Feeling that something is not right
• Concern about student’s ability to function
• Worry about student’s comments or behavior

If the student’s behavior represents an immediate threat CALL 911.

If the threat is not immediate, but are you concerned the student may harm self or others call:

Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.:

• Office of the Dean of Students, (865) 974-3179 or Counseling Center, (865) 974-2196

Evenings and weekends call:

• Mobile Crisis (for students 18 & over), (865) 539-2409
• Youth Villages (for students 17 & under), 1 (866) 791-9225 or (865) 560-2598

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