If you are concerned about a student

Teachers and staff are often the first to recognize that a student is in distress. You may notice a sudden or even gradual change in a student’s behaviour, personal hygiene or attendance. A student may behave in a bizarre or inappropriate manner, or perhaps seem to be sad, lethargic or agitated. Often, when unable to complete their work, students will confide to their teachers that they are having personal problems. In such situations, you are in an excellent position to provide information and assistance to students in difficulty and to refer them for professional counselling if needed.

Our mental health professionals offer consultation to faculty, staff, parents and students who are concerned about a Dawson student. Simply email us at: mentalhealth@dawsoncollege.qc.ca

One of our mental health professionals will contact you to discuss your concerns and help you to identify ways in which you might be able to help the student. If necessary, we can help you refer the student for professional help, either in our service or in the community.

Tips for referring a student to our mental health services

• Speak directly to the student about your concerns, preferably in private. People in distress are almost always receptive to an expression of genuine interest, caring and concern.
• Describe specific behaviours you have observed (e.g. absence from class, failing grades, nervousness, inappropriate behaviour, etc.) that are causing concern. Clearly stating your observations makes it more difficult for the person to deny that a problem exists and also lets the person know that you care enough to notice.
• Remember that except in cases of emergency, the decision whether to accept a referral to our mental health services rests entirely with the individual. If the student resists your suggestions for help, it’s usually best not to push. Suggest that the two of you explore this matter again sometime in the future.
• Many people have negative preconceptions about counselling based upon stereotypes. Educate the student about the process of counselling:
  • Let the student know that our mental health services are free of charge and voluntary, and that they can terminate at any time.
  • Reassure the student that our services are confidential.
  • Let the student know that mental health professionals work hard to understand students, to see things from their point of view and to work with them to figure out solutions.
  • Make sure that the student knows that if, for some reason they do not feel comfortable with a particular mental health professional, a referral to another professional can be made.
• Assist the student in making an appointment. If they appear really upset, or you’re worried that they may not follow through with seeking mental health support, suggest making an appointment immediately. If the student is still hesitant, offer to call on their behalf. Some faculty, staff and friends bring students directly to our office when this level of support is deemed necessary. If you feel that a student needs to be seen immediately, we recommend that you email us at: mentalhealth@dawsoncollege.qc.ca or call extension 1186 to arrange for a mental health professional to be available.
• Because people often mistakenly see coming to counselling as a sign of weakness, frame the decision to seek mental health support as a mature choice that suggests the student is not running away from their problems.
• After the first meeting with a mental health professional, you may wish to follow up by asking how things went during the session. If the student is ambivalent about continuing, some additional encouragement might be helpful. The counselling process is often most difficult at the very beginning and your encouragement may help to get the student over this initial hurdle.
• Remember that without the student’s consent we cannot tell you about anything that happens in session, or even whether the student followed through on the referral.

Counselling Services are located in room 4E.2 from 8:00am to 5:00pm

All requests for mental health services are now processed through our intake email, which is monitored Monday to Friday, from 9h00 to 17h00:
mentalhealth@dawsoncollege.qc.ca

(Adapted from the website of The Counselling Center at University of Pittsburgh)