Responding to Students in Distress

Referral Guide: to help gauge the level of distress to ascertain the most appropriate intervention for a student in distress

(N.B also see Sexual Violence Support Pathway for assistance with responding to students reporting sexual assault)

Level of severity

Emergency

Incapacitated

Extremely severe

Very severe

Severe

Moderately severe

Moderate

Mild

Very mild

Definition

Violent and threatening behaviour to self and/or other; actively suicidal

Unstable; functionality overwhelmed; maybe psychotic; maybe suicidal thought and intent evident

Some suicidal thought evident; seriously desperate; functioning significantly affected

Functioning significantly effected; very distressed and fearful; chronic and constant; may have suicidal thought

Coping to some extent but at great emotional cost; chronic but not constant

Distressed and functioning affected; may be having difficulty in managing demands or are
becoming withdrawn from activity

Considerable distress but functioning ok in some activities but performance may be effected

Distressed but contained

Concerned; response seems ‘normal’ to situation; minor difficulty

Example of behaviour/activity

Overdosed; deep wrist cuts; etc

Lack of contact with reality; suicide attempt imminent

Uncontrollable; ‘acting out’

This includes a range of examples, including: depressed; eating disordered; stressed/anxious/panicking/worried; struggles with self identity, transitions; etc which may present through the range of severity levels.

Struggles with assignment; homesick; relationship break up

Action to consider

Call emergency services (999) via security ext22222

Contact the Crisis and Resolution Team for an urgent mental health assessment Tel: 024 7624 6789, or contact security ext 22222

Refer them to their GP and/or seek advice from the Mental Health Coordinator. Consider referral to the CS*

Consider referral to the CS*

Consider signposting to University Wellbeing Advisor

Consider referral to the CS*

Consider signposting to University Wellbeing Advisor

Acknowledge distress and reassure; sign post to specific information. Consider signposting to University Wellbeing Advisor

NBs

Keep yourself out of danger; debrief with someone promptly

Keep calm to contain the situation; debrief with someone afterwards

Contain the situation until it subsides; debrief with someone afterwards

Monitor the situation regularly

Monitor the situation occasionally

Monitor the situation as required

Arrange to check at a later date

*UCS University Counselling Service. The UCS offers a comprehensive counselling service including

If you are considering referral to the UCS, or have any concerns about a student's emotional or psychological well being, please get in touch:

e-mail counselling@warwick.ac.uk (NB this is the administration/business email address)
telephone 024 76523761(external) or 23761(internal).
call in during open hours
find out where we are

NB Each department has a designated named link consultant who can offer guidance on referring to the counselling service.

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