Recognize Student Distress in a Virtual Environment

Mental health challenges for students will continue as classes go online. Though they may be more difficult to identify in a virtual setting, there are warning signs that faculty and staff should be aware of throughout the semester. Faculty and staff who regularly interact with students are often best positioned to see these signs of student distress and connect students with mental health providers when appropriate. In this webcast, our expert will offer guidance on identifying these signs and offer recommendations for connecting students to resources.

We will specifically tackle the following objectives:

1. Learn the risk factors and warning signs of distress, which include signs of depression, anxiety, behavior changes, and suicidal thoughts.
2. Understand how to best intervene to support someone. Learn tips for starting the conversation, recognizing cultural considerations, and managing boundaries.
3. Know your role and when to refer. Learn how to check your comfort and limitations and know where and when to refer on campus.

Who Should Attend

This program is designed to meet the needs of non-mental health professionals in higher education. Anyone who works with students on a regular basis, is concerned about student mental health, and is not a specially trained mental health professional will benefit from this program.

Agenda

During this webcast, our expert instructor will dive deep into the following considerations:

1. Recognize
   Learn the signs of distress and how to spot these verbal and non-verbal cues during virtual interactions.
2. Respond
   1. We will provide specific guidance on how to:
   2. Start difficult discussions
   3. Ask the right questions
   4. Actively listen
3. Take Action
   Understand what your responsibilities are when it comes to student mental health at your institution.
   1. Clearly define your limitations
   2. Discern when and how to refer to a mental health professional

Speaker