87 86 Chapter Five: Supporting Students with Mental Health Difficulties Chapter Five: Supporting Students with Mental Health Difficulties Very often, people are reluctant to talk about suicide openly and directly, for the fear that it may trigger or worsen the concerned individual’s negative emotions and views. Quite the contrary, students who are suicidal are often relieved when someone finally approaches them and asks “Are you thinking of killing yourself?” for they no longer need to struggle with their feelings alone. Directly asking them if they have any thought of hurting themselves will not “put the thought into their heads”. Given the detrimental impacts of suicide behaviors on campus, students who are suicidal warrant immediate and urgent attention. It is important for all faculty and staff to view all suicidal comments seriously and take appropriate actions, which include making referral to the Counseling and Wellness Center, University Clinic, Campus Security Office, or even the Police, if necessary. Physical Violence and Aggressive Behaviors Extreme forms of violence are rare, though they do happen on campus. A student can act out and direct their anger to the other people when he or she perceives a threat, feel frustrated and/or out of control. Some students may express hostility immediately regardless of their circumstances or the people around them. Others may deny their anger and frustration until their hostility builds to the point of an explosive outburst. Sometimes, students act hostile and lash out to try to gain a sense of control or to protect themselves from being hurt. The use of drugs or alcohol may increase the propensity for more aggressive behaviors as well. In some cases, the aggressive behaviors may be indicative of the onset of a mental health disorder. Although violence is hard to be predicted, there are some indicators that suggest a student may have a higher risk for violence. These include having a prior history of family violence or abuse, and volatility or inability to control aggressive impulses due to organic or learned behavior. Unfortunately, when dealing with student cases, you do not always know the historical or immediate background of a particular student. Therefore, it is important to be cautious about all the signs and symptoms that warrant immediate attention, and to ensure your own safety and seek assistance if there is an imminent threat of harm. “Some students may express hostility immediately regardless of their circumstances or the people around them.” SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS • Hostile, suspicious and agitated behaviors • Hyper-vigilance looking around a lot, heightened sensitivity • Extreme dependency • Delusions and hallucinations • Fearfulness, anger or predatory behaviors • Loud and pressured speech e.g.
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