Referring Students to Counseling and Other Resources

The purpose of this page is to introduce Northern Michigan University Counseling and Consultation Services, to offer assistance for faculty and staff in recognizing psychologically distressed students, to provide some useful tips for utilizing appropriate services, and to furnish a list of additional community resources.

NMU Counseling and Consultation Services provides personal counseling and testing for all NMU students free of charge. Our mission is to maintain and enhance students' psychological and emotional well-being so they can successfully achieve their academic goals. Appropriate reasons to see a counselor at the Center include depression or "blues," self-destructive thoughts, anxiety, traumatic experiences, homesickness, trouble in relationships, substance problems, problematic eating patterns, and low self-esteem.

Since students often seek out faculty and staff to share their distress, you may be the first one to notice changes in students which could signal psychological distress. Some changes in behaviors and moods that suggest psychological distress are:

• Withdrawing from social interactions
• Increase in use of substances
• Increased tendency to get into arguments with others
• Indiscriminate sexual involvement with multiple partners
• Increase in other risk-taking behaviors
• Missing classes
• Inability to concentrate and lethargic mood
• Falling GPA
• Any self-destructive behaviors
• Becoming very pessimistic or hopeless in topics of conversation
• Preoccupation with, or references to, death (suicide or homicide)
• Weight loss or gain or changes in sleep patterns (up all hours of the day or night, or excessive sleeping)
• Unusual or bizarre responses like talking off the subject or rambling

The more symptoms observed, the more likely the individual is to be truly distressed. Appropriate actions to take with distressed students include:

• Check it out. Ask the student how he/she is "I'm worried about you." "I'm wondering what's going on that might be upsetting you."
• Reinforce the person for confiding in you and maintain a nonjudgmental and accepting manner.
• Acknowledge and empathize with the student's pain, and give the student time to express him/herself.
• When the problem requires more than general support and encouragement, indicate in a gentle but direct manner that professional assistance is a positive step.
• Any type of message about suicide should be taken seriously. If you believe a student is in imminent danger of harming him/herself, immediately contact NMU Public Safety at 911.
• If you are hearing statements or hints about suicide from a student, keep in mind that professionals assess suicide potential, in part, by asking if the person has a plan for suicide. They ask exactly how it will happen and when they intend to carry out the plan. They also ask if the person has ever attempted suicide in the past. The more specific and lethal the plan, the more recent a previous attempt, and the greater the ability to carry out the plan, the higher the risk for an actual suicide.
• It is appropriate for any campus professional to ask these questions. Many students think about suicide as a way to resolve overwhelming problems. They may just need a chance to talk about the feelings, and some hope that the problems can be solved.

Note: When referring students for counseling, if the student has ingested any dangerous substance, or if the student is impaired due to a substance, refer him/her to community hospital resources at 228-9440 or NMU Public Safety at 227-2151. When and on-campus student seems to be at risk for self-destructive behavior patterns you can also inform Housing and Residence Life so they can address the problem in the residence hall.

Talk with the student in private, if possible. Inform the student about the confidential, free counseling services. Have the phone number ready (227-2981).

Possible Statement: "It sounds as though you have been under stress, aren't doing very well, and need to talk with someone about this. I would suggest you see someone at the Counseling and Consultation Services. I could call and help you make arrangements right now. What do you think about that?"

You can also show the student our web page titled "Student's Guide to Counseling and Consultation Services" with all the information a student needs to understand what to expect from the center.

When you or the student contacts the CCS by phone we will ask the student to come to our office to do some paperwork and make an appointment. We will schedule the student for the next available appointment. Referrals do not guarantee that the student will become a client of the CCS since it is the student's responsibility to attend the appointment once it is scheduled. Due to our responsibility to maintain confidentiality, we are unable to provide information to the referring staff member about the student's client status.

Note: Counseling and Consultation Services does not contact students to encourage them to come in for counseling. Sometimes a friend or staff member comes along to offer support, but the student with the problem is the one who signs the consent form and chooses counseling. Counseling is a safe, trusting relationship that empowers clients and facilitates healthy choice making for the future.

Counseling and Consultation Services provides consultation for any staff member who needs assistance with:

• Assessing the seriousness of a situation
• Clarifying your own concerns and feelings about the situation
• Choosing an effective approach for interacting with the student
• Identifying the best way to facilitate the student's use of counseling services

If you are in an emotional crisis, please do not rely on e-mail for help.  Come to the Counseling Center (227-2981) on the top floor of Hedgcock, room 3405. If in doubt, ask a counselor if counseling or further personal consultation might be beneficial for your specific concern or situation. If you are in crisis and need emergency services after hours, call Public Safety at 227-2151 or Marquette General Hospital at 228-9440.

Alternative Resource Referral Directory

(All numbers listed here are in the 906 area code)