Certain behaviors or symptoms often indicate a student is experiencing psychological or emotional distress. Students who exhibit a number of these symptoms or behaviors over an extended period of time should be of particular concern.

• Marked changes in academic performance, including significant deterioration in quality of work, consistently missed assignments, excessive procrastination, or avoidance of classroom participation
• Excessive class absences or tardiness
• Listlessness, lack of energy, or falling asleep in class
• Unusual or bizarre behavior, including unexplained crying, laughing to self, very rapid speech, disorganized thinking, suspiciousness, or hearing voices
• High levels of irritability, including angry outbursts or unruly behavior
• Dramatic weight loss or weight gain
• Psychosomatic symptoms, including nausea, stomach aches, headaches, or problems with eating or sleeping
• Marked changes in personal hygiene or dress
• Direct or indirect references to either suicide or intention to harm another person
• Disturbances in personal relationships
• Visible symptoms of anxiety or depressed mood

How to refer a distressed student

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