{"id":1636,"date":"2025-08-05T16:36:34","date_gmt":"2025-08-05T16:36:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/student-outreach\/?page_id=1636"},"modified":"2025-08-25T18:42:44","modified_gmt":"2025-08-25T18:42:44","slug":"student-in-distress-response","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/student-outreach\/student-in-distress-response\/","title":{"rendered":"Students in Distress Response Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>This guide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n<div role=\"region\" class=\"accordion\">\n      <div class=\"accordion-item border border-gray-light\">\n      <div class=\"accordion-header-text\">\n        <h3 class=\"margin-bottom-0\">\n          <button class=\"accordion-header full-width background-gray-light-30 border-0 margin-0 padding-top-2 padding-bottom-2 padding-left-3 padding-right-3\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n            Low Concern (Non-Urgent)            <div class='accordion-toggle icon-right' class=''>\n              <i class='icon-chevron-right'><\/i>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/button>\n        <\/h3>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class='accordion-content'>\n        <p>Student would benefit from support. Involves concerns without risk of suicide or imminent danger.<\/p>\n<h3>A student may display the following.<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Demonstrates a sudden change in typical behavior.<\/li>\n<li>May have experienced a recent stressor.<\/li>\n<li>Experiencing grief or loss.<\/li>\n<li>Experiencing anxiety and\/or panic attacks.<\/li>\n<li>Experiencing depression and\/or sadness.<\/li>\n<li>Difficulty adjusting to life in college.<\/li>\n<li>Difficulties with decision-making.<\/li>\n<li>Lacking motivation or concentration.<\/li>\n<li>Sleeping in class.<\/li>\n<li>Struggling with self-esteem and\/or self-confidence.<\/li>\n<li>Experiencing social pressures and\/or conflicts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Student Support Steps<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Have a conversation with the student and share resources below.\n<ul>\n<li>Student Outreach and Support (SOS): <a href=\"tel:3154434357\">315.443.4357<\/a> (HELP), <a href=\"mailto:studentsupport@syr.edu\">studentsupport@syr.edu<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Barnes Center at The Arch Counseling: <a href=\"tel:3154438000\">315.443.8000<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Document the behavior and conversation.<\/li>\n<li>Follow-up and encourage student use of offered resources.<\/li>\n<li>Staff, faculty and parent\/supporter student support consultation services are offered by SOS and Barnes Center Counseling.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n      <div class=\"accordion-item border border-gray-light\">\n      <div class=\"accordion-header-text\">\n        <h3 class=\"margin-bottom-0\">\n          <button class=\"accordion-header full-width background-gray-light-30 border-0 margin-0 padding-top-2 padding-bottom-2 padding-left-3 padding-right-3\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n            Moderate Concern            <div class='accordion-toggle icon-right' class=''>\n              <i class='icon-chevron-right'><\/i>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/button>\n        <\/h3>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class='accordion-content'>\n        <p>Student may stay safe but requires immediate support.<\/p>\n<h3>A student may display the following.<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Demonstrates bizarre behavior or speech.<\/li>\n<li>Erratic moods.<\/li>\n<li>Expressing thoughts of harming oneself or others.<\/li>\n<li>Disruptive to the learning environment.<\/li>\n<li>Experiencing self-harm.<\/li>\n<li>Under the influences of substances.<\/li>\n<li>Unprovoked aggressive behavior, anger or hostility.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Student Support Steps<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Have a conversation with the student.<\/li>\n<li>Call Barnes Center at The Arch Counseling: <a href=\"tel:3154438000\">315.443.8000<\/a>. You may be asked to walk the student over to the Barnes Center.<\/li>\n<li>Contact Student Outreach and Support (SOS): <a href=\"tel:3154434357\">315.443.4357<\/a> (HELP), <a href=\"mailto:studentsupport@syr.edu\">studentsupport@syr.edu<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Document the behavior and conversation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n      <div class=\"accordion-item border border-gray-light\">\n      <div class=\"accordion-header-text\">\n        <h3 class=\"margin-bottom-0\">\n          <button class=\"accordion-header full-width background-gray-light-30 border-0 margin-0 padding-top-2 padding-bottom-2 padding-left-3 padding-right-3\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n            High Concern (Urgent)            <div class='accordion-toggle icon-right' class=''>\n              <i class='icon-chevron-right'><\/i>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/button>\n        <\/h3>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class='accordion-content'>\n        <p>Student is in immediate danger to self and others.<\/p>\n<h3>A student may display the following.<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Makes direct verbal or physical threats to harm oneself or others.<\/li>\n<li>Is exhibiting violent or overtly dangerous behavior.<\/li>\n<li>Psychosis (hallucinations or delusions).<\/li>\n<li>Alcohol\/drug overdose.<\/li>\n<li>Seeing\/hearing things that are not there.<\/li>\n<li>Is experiencing a medical emergency.<\/li>\n<li>Reports they are being hazed or know of hazing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Student Support Steps<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Safety of student and\/or others is an immediate concern!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Department of Public Safety<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Call <a href=\"tel:3154432224\">315.443.2224<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Call #78 (#SU) using a cell phone.<\/li>\n<li>Call 711 from a campus landline phone.<\/li>\n<li>Utilize the Orange Safe mobile app.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n<hr>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Confidential Campus Resources <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Barnes Center at The Arch Counselors and Health Care Providers: <a href=\"tel:3154438000\">315.443.8000<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hendricks Chapel Chaplains: <a href=\"tel:3154432901\">315.443.2901<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Office of the University Ombuds: <a href=\"tel:3154431087\">315.443.1087<\/a>, <a href=\"mailto:ombuds@syr.edu\">ombuds@syr.edu<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sexual and Relationship Violence Response Team: <a href=\"tel:3154438000\">315.443.8000<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div role=\"region\" class=\"accordion\">\n      <div class=\"accordion-item border border-gray-light\">\n      <div class=\"accordion-header-text\">\n        <h3 class=\"margin-bottom-0\">\n          <button class=\"accordion-header full-width background-gray-light-30 border-0 margin-0 padding-top-2 padding-bottom-2 padding-left-3 padding-right-3\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n            Sexual and Relationship Violence and\/or Title IX            <div class='accordion-toggle icon-right' class=''>\n              <i class='icon-chevron-right'><\/i>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/button>\n        <\/h3>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class='accordion-content'>\n        <p>If a student discloses an incident of sexual and relationship violence or a Title IX concern to a non-confidential resource faculty or staff member, it\u2019s required that they immediately contact<br \/>\nStudent Title IX at <a href=\"mailto:titleix@syr.edu\">titleix@syr.edu<\/a> or <a href=\"tel:3154430211\">315.443.0211<\/a>.<\/p>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n      <div class=\"accordion-item border border-gray-light\">\n      <div class=\"accordion-header-text\">\n        <h3 class=\"margin-bottom-0\">\n          <button class=\"accordion-header full-width background-gray-light-30 border-0 margin-0 padding-top-2 padding-bottom-2 padding-left-3 padding-right-3\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n            Report an Act of Bias            <div class='accordion-toggle icon-right' class=''>\n              <i class='icon-chevron-right'><\/i>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/button>\n        <\/h3>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class='accordion-content'>\n        <p>Complete the <a href=\"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/community-standards\/bias-response\/bias-reporting\/\">Bias Incident Reporting Form<\/a> if a student witnesses or experiences a bias-related incident.<\/p>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n      <div class=\"accordion-item border border-gray-light\">\n      <div class=\"accordion-header-text\">\n        <h3 class=\"margin-bottom-0\">\n          <button class=\"accordion-header full-width background-gray-light-30 border-0 margin-0 padding-top-2 padding-bottom-2 padding-left-3 padding-right-3\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n            Non-Emergency Threat Situations            <div class='accordion-toggle icon-right' class=''>\n              <i class='icon-chevron-right'><\/i>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/button>\n        <\/h3>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class='accordion-content'>\n        <p>Please make a report to the Threat Assessment and Management Team (TAMT) if you are concerned about a non-emergency threat to the campus community at <a href=\"mailto:711@syr.edu\">711@syr.edu<\/a> or <span>submit a\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/dps.syr.edu\/threat-assessment-and-management-team\/tamt-web-report-form\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Web Report Form<\/a><span> that will be sent to the TAMT.<\/span><\/p>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n<hr>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Student Support<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>How to show support:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Listen without judgement.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Express your concerns directly to the student using specific examples about the behaviors or reasons you are concerned.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Don&#8217;t avoid the situation, promise privacy or offer more help than you are able to provide.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Instill hope that help is available and effective.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use specific examples about behaviors or reasons why you are concerned when speaking with the student.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Encourage the student to call and make their own appointment with the Barnes Center at The Arch or Student Outreach and Support (SOS), and show them how to do this.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If it is safe during a crisis situation with a student, call the appropriate team to consult. You could be asked to walk the student to the team in some circumstances. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<hr>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Instructions for Navigating Severe and\/or Disruptive Classroom Behavior<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Take immediate action if, in your judgement, a student is exhibiting hostile, belligerent and\/or out of control behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n<div role=\"region\" class=\"accordion\">\n      <div class=\"accordion-item border border-gray-light\">\n      <div class=\"accordion-header-text\">\n        <h3 class=\"margin-bottom-0\">\n          <button class=\"accordion-header full-width background-gray-light-30 border-0 margin-0 padding-top-2 padding-bottom-2 padding-left-3 padding-right-3\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n            During the Incident            <div class='accordion-toggle icon-right' class=''>\n              <i class='icon-chevron-right'><\/i>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/button>\n        <\/h3>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class='accordion-content'>\n        <ol>\n<li><strong>Safety First:<\/strong> Always keep safety in mind when interacting with a disruptive student. Maintain a safe distance and a route of escape should you need it. If danger to you, the student or others seems imminent, call the Department of Public Safety at <a href=\"tel:3154432224\">315.443.2224<\/a>, #78 (#SU) using a cell phone, 711 from a campus landline phone or you may utilize the Orange Safe mobile app.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Avoid Escalation:<\/strong> Distressed students may sometimes be easily provoked. Never embarrass a student in front of others. Being supportive but firm, approach the situation calmly. Avoid threatening, humiliating or intimidating responses. When a student is distressed, it is best to avoid confrontation. You may want to ask the disruptive student to leave the class for that day. You may always remind the student of classroom expectations later when the situation has deescalated.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n      <div class=\"accordion-item border border-gray-light\">\n      <div class=\"accordion-header-text\">\n        <h3 class=\"margin-bottom-0\">\n          <button class=\"accordion-header full-width background-gray-light-30 border-0 margin-0 padding-top-2 padding-bottom-2 padding-left-3 padding-right-3\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n            After the Incident            <div class='accordion-toggle icon-right' class=''>\n              <i class='icon-chevron-right'><\/i>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/button>\n        <\/h3>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class='accordion-content'>\n        <ol>\n<li><strong>Faculty and Student Meeting:<\/strong> Outside of class time, the faculty member should meet with the student to review and discuss classroom behavior and expectations moving forward. The faculty member should send a recap email to the student reiterating what was discussed following the meeting.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Department Chair and Student Meeting:<\/strong> If behavior continues, the faculty member is to notify the department chair requesting they meet with the student. Again, this meeting should discuss what acceptable behavior is and what is not, in addition to classroom expectations moving forward. This meeting will notify the student that if the behavior continues, the next step is referral to the student conduct team, Community Standards. The department chair should send a recap email to the student reiterating what was discussed following the meeting.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Disruptive Classroom Behavior Continues:<\/strong> The faculty member or the department chair should make a referral to Community Standards by calling <a href=\"tel:3154433728\">315.443.3728<\/a>, or by visiting the <a href=\"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/community-standards\">Community Standards website<\/a>, selecting \u201cReport a Concern\u201d and selecting the form that best fits the disruptive classroom behavior.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n      <div class=\"accordion-item border border-gray-light\">\n      <div class=\"accordion-header-text\">\n        <h3 class=\"margin-bottom-0\">\n          <button class=\"accordion-header full-width background-gray-light-30 border-0 margin-0 padding-top-2 padding-bottom-2 padding-left-3 padding-right-3\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n            When to Seek Campus Partner Consultation            <div class='accordion-toggle icon-right' class=''>\n              <i class='icon-chevron-right'><\/i>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/button>\n        <\/h3>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class='accordion-content'>\n        <p>Consultation services are available through SOS and the Barnes Center.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Anytime you are not sure how to handle a situation or approach a student.<\/li>\n<li>The student keeps coming back and has not followed through with your referral.<\/li>\n<li>To obtain strategies or suggestions that you may be able to provide a student on your own.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n      <div class=\"accordion-item border border-gray-light\">\n      <div class=\"accordion-header-text\">\n        <h3 class=\"margin-bottom-0\">\n          <button class=\"accordion-header full-width background-gray-light-30 border-0 margin-0 padding-top-2 padding-bottom-2 padding-left-3 padding-right-3\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n            When to Seek Campus Partner Referrals             <div class='accordion-toggle icon-right' class=''>\n              <i class='icon-chevron-right'><\/i>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/button>\n        <\/h3>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class='accordion-content'>\n        <p>Referral services are available through SOS and the Barnes Center.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>When you are doing more \u201ccounseling\u201d than the scope of your respective role.<\/li>\n<li>The problems or requests made are outside the scope of your role with the student.<\/li>\n<li>When you feel that the issue with which the student is dealing with could benefit from working with a mental health professional.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This guide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Confidential Campus Resources Student Support How to show support: Instructions for Navigating Severe and\/or Disruptive Classroom Behavior Take immediate action if, in your judgement, a student is exhibiting hostile, belligerent and\/or out of control behavior.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":368,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1636","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/student-outreach\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1636","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/student-outreach\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/student-outreach\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/student-outreach\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/368"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/student-outreach\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1636"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/student-outreach\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1636\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1705,"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/student-outreach\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1636\/revisions\/1705"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/student-outreach\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1636"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}