Supporting Students in Distress

University can be a difficult time for many students, and postsecondary intuitions are witnessing an increase in students presenting with complex needs, particularly relating to mental health. The Supporting Students in Distress workshop is intended to equip faculty and staff with practical strategies and information on how to effectively help a student presenting with mental health difficulties. In this session, participants will learn how to apply the 4R Model (Recognize, Respond, Refer and Report/Reflect) to supporting students who may be in distress or are experiencing a mental health emergency.

Please note that any members of the Carleton community who are concerned about a student can submit a Care Report through Wellness Services.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this workshop, staff and faculty will be able to:

• Identify what is mental health and describe the statistics around the mental health and well-being of post-secondary students
• Distinguish between urgent and non-urgent situations and what to do in each case including the difference between stress, distress and a mental health emergency
• Describe practical strategies of how to respond to students who are presenting with complex needs whether the interaction is in-person, virtual, phone or through email
• Identify various support services available on campus to assist you in supporting students and how to effectively refer them
• Practice identifying urgent versus non-urgent situations, how to support students and where to refer them to through case studies and discussions

What to expect at the session

Session length: 2 hours

This workshop may include the following activities:

• Periods of sitting
• Listening to a facilitator(s)
• Discussion and personal reflection
• Viewing a multimedia presentation
• Group activity

Carleton University embraces diversity and inclusion in the workplace. If you require a form of accommodation in order to participate fully in this workshop, please contact StudentSupportCertificate@carleton.ca to arrange accommodations.

CACUSS Competencies

The Student Support Certificate provides growth and development opportunities aligned with the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services’ (CACUSS) Competency Model. The Supporting Students in Distress workshop aligns with elements of the following competencies:

• Emotional and interpersonal intelligence
• Student advising, support and advocacy
• Communication