Regular contact with students at Saddleback College is typically pleasant and productive. However, on occasion we experience behavior that causes concern for us about a student’s well being. Various campus services are available to provide support for you and your students if situations of concern arise. This website is provided by the College Mental Health Program in response to your requests for recommendations and support in dealing with troubling student behavior on campus.
This website offers concrete advice and guidance on how to aid emotionally distressed students and how to refer them for on-campus help. Because of your daily interaction with students, you are in a unique position to recognize those who may be emotionally troubled. A student’s behavior, especially if it is inconsistent with your previous observations, might be a “cry for help.” Your ability to recognize the signs of emotional distress, coupled with your courage to acknowledge your concerns directly to the student, are often noted by students as the most significant factor in their successful problem resolution. Intervention and referrals from caring individuals may be the first steps in helping students regain their emotional health.
A psychological crisis is a life event that one perceives as stressful and during which normal coping mechanisms are insufficient. Most crisis situations that arise require immediate or same day attention. Students do not need a pre-scheduled appointment to see a counselor if they have an urgent, emergency situation. Such crisis situations may include, but are not limited to:
Use your classroom telephone to call one of the offices below for assistance. Or, if the student is safe, you may walk her/him to one of these offices and assist her/him in receiving crisis intervention counseling. When in doubt, err on the side of making a call for crisis intervention.
The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) at Saddleback College is composed of professional counselors from the Student Health Center and the Division of Counseling and Special Programs. The CIT counselors are available to assist when a Saddleback College student or staff member experiences an on-campus emergency and is in need of immediate help.
If you or a student has a crisis situation, call the CIT at (949) 582-HELP (4357) the Student Health Center at (949) 582-4606 or General Counseling at(949) 582-4572.
If you are on campus and need assistance after CIT hours or on weekends,
call the Campus Police at (949) 582-4444 or *80 from any campus pay phone.
When not on campus, call 911 or have a trusted person take you to a local emergency room.
Here is a list of the most commonly observed signs of distress among students. This list is not intended to be comprehensive. You may occasionally meet students who have other behaviors that concern you.
Openly acknowledging to students that you are aware of their distress, that you are sincerely concerned about their welfare, and that you are willing to help them explore their alternatives, can have a profound effect. We encourage you, whenever possible, to speak directly and honestly to students whenever you sense that they are experiencing academic or personal distress.
Individuals express their emotional distress in different ways. In this section, you will find information describing different forms of emotional distress, as well as the symptoms of each. This section of the website also offers you suggestions on what you might do to assist a student who is experiencing certain symptoms.
Depression, and the variety of ways it manifests itself, is part of a natural emotional and physical response to life’s ups and downs. With the busy and demanding life of a college student, it is safe to assume that most students will experience periods of depression in their college careers. When the depressive symptoms become so extreme or are so enduring that they begin to interfere with the student’s ability to function in school, work or social environment, the student will come to your attention and be in need of assistance.
Students with depression often respond well to a small amount of attention for a short period of time. Early intervention increases the chances of the student’s rapid return to optimal performance.
There are several symptoms of depression. Remember, a person does not have to exhibit all of these symptoms to meet the criteria for depression. Here are some of the indicators that you might observe:
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Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students. It is important to view all suicidal comments as serious and to make appropriate referrals. High risk indicators include:
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Anxiety is a normal response to a perceived danger or threat to one’s well being. For some students the cause of their anxiety will be clear, but for others it is difficult to pinpoint. Regardless of the cause, the following symptoms maybe experienced:
In some extreme cases, students may experience a panic attack in which the physical symptoms occur so spontaneously and intensely that the student may fear that she/he is dying.
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The Student in Poor Contact with Reality
These students have difficulty distinguishing fantasy from reality, the dream from the waking state. They may frighten or alarm others because of their behaviors. However, they are not generally dangerous and tend to be very frightened and overwhelmed. In broad terms, their symptoms may include:
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The Abusive and/or Violent Student
Students who become abusive and/or violent are often in frustrating situations that they see as beyond their control. Their anger and frustration is taken out on the nearest target. These students’ behaviors are their way of trying to gain power and control in an otherwise out-of-control situation. Students’ abusive and/or violent behavior is often associated with their use of alcohol and/or drugs. Look for:
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Typically, even the utmost time and energy given to these students is not enough. They often seek to control your time and believe the amount of time received is a reflection of their worth. You may find yourself increasingly drained and feeling overly-responsible for this student. The demanding passive student may:
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The Student Suspected of Substance Abuse
Alcohol is the most widely used psychoactive drug. Alcohol abusers in college populations often also abuse drugs, including both prescription and illicit drugs. While patterns of use are affected by fads and peer pressure, the currently preferred drug-of-choice among college students is alcohol. The effects of alcohol on the user are well known to most of us. Alcohol and/or drug abuse by a student is most often characterized by:
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Typically, these students complain about something other than their psychological difficulties. They often come to the faculty member’s attention because they:
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The Sexually Harassed Student
Sexual harassment involves unwelcome and unwanted sexual attention and/or advances, requests for sexual favors, and other inappropriate verbal comments or physical contact. It usually occurs within the context of a relationship of unequal power, rank or status. It does not matter whether or not the offending person’s intention was to harass. It is the effect that harassment has that counts. As long as the conduct interferes with a student’s academic performance, or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive learning environment, it is considered sexual harassment. Sexual harassment usually is not an isolated, one-time-only incident, but rather, a repeated pattern of behavior that may include:
Students who have been sexually harassed often display these characteristics:
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When you have determined a referral for mental health services is appropriate, you can be most helpful by clearly and concisely telling the student why you think counseling would be of benefit. You might also tell the student a few facts about our services. Here are important facts that students want to know:
Students may receive personal counseling at either the Student Health Center or the Counseling and Special Programs Office. Having students make the call to schedule an appointment increases their responsibility for and commitment to the counseling process. However, there may be times, especially if students are in crisis, when it is necessary for you to assist them with the call or to accompany them to one of our offices.
Information | Student Health Center | Counseling & Special Programs |
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Location | SSC177 | SSC167 |
Phone | 949-582-4606 | 949-582-4572 |
Hours | Mon-Thurs 8am - 7 pm Friday 8am - 3 pm |
Mon-Thurs 8am-5pm Friday 8am-3pm |
Appointments |
Call the office or come to the Health Center to schedule an appointment. Crisis situations do not require a prescheduled appointment. |
Call the office or come to the Counseling &Special Programs office to schedule an appointment Appointment will be scheduled for the following week Crisis situations do not require a prescheduled appointment. |
Services |
Individual counseling |
Personal counseling |
The Student Health Center psychologists provide pre-scheduled in-service training to faculty and classified staff in identifying and assisting students who are in emotional/psychological distress, are disruptive, or who are potentially threatening. The training is organized around three primary areas of preparedness.
First, the staff is taught and gains experience in active listening and de-escalating students who are distressed.
Second, they are provided information with how to access on-campus resources, including Campus Police, General Counseling, and the Student Health Center for students in need.
Last, they are given detailed training on how to respond to crisis situations, with specific information on the Crisis Intervention services.
As many as one in five students suffer from a mental disorder that may threaten their well-being or academic performance. Suicide is the leading cause of student mortality among college students. Training everyone on campus to identify, approach, and refer students in psychological distress is an effective strategy for strengthening the safety net for all students.
In order to help address these concerns, the Counseling Division has adopted 6 fully interactive, avatar based training simulations to help faculty, staff, administrators, and students build skills through role play. 3 trainings are specific for faculty, staff, & administrators and 3 are specifically designed for students. Users engage in conversations with emotionally responsive student avatars who exhibit signs of psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. In this process, the user practices and learns to use open-ended questions, reflective listening, and other motivational interviewing techniques to effectively:
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Professional Development is Available for Faculty - Must complete Individual Activity Report Form.
Extra Credit is Available for Students Link to Extra Credit Assignment Template