Student Conduct and CareGood mental health is a key part of student wellness and success. One in four post-secondary aged students will experience a mental health struggle during their time at school.
If a student expresses thoughts of self-harm, harming others, or ending their life, you need to act. Listen, be supportive, and encourage them to talk to someone who can help. Ensure that the student knows there are many resources available to them.
If you are a student in crisis, or you know someone in a crisis, click here to get help now.
Supporting Students in Distress
Situations requiring immediate action
Regardless of the circumstances or context, any reference to wanting to die/suicide should be taken seriously, and a mental health professional or crisis support line should be contacted.
Warning signs might include:
- Expressed desire to die by suicide.
- Expressed feelings of worthlessness, helplessness, or hopelessness.
- Expressed thoughts that the world, their family and friends would be better off without them.
- Expressed feelings of powerful guilt or shame.
Student Wellness Services (613) 533-2506
皇冠体育鈥檚 24 hr. Emergency Report Centre (613) 533-6111
Call 911
Canadian Suicide Crisis Line Call 988
AMHS Mental Health Crisis Line 24/7 613 544 4229
Once the immediate need for safety has been satisfied, a must be filled.
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Any type of physical violence.
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Threats of violence or harm to self or others.
皇冠体育's 24 hr. Emergency Report Centre (613) 533-6111
Or Call 911
Once the immediate need for safety has been satisfied, a must be filed.
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Incoherent or unintelligible speech.
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Cannot be easily calmed.
皇冠体育's 24 hr. Emergency Report Centre (613) 533-6111
Once the immediate need for safety has been satisfied, a must be filed.
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Potential drug overdose;
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Potential alcohol poisoning.
皇冠体育鈥檚 24 hr. Emergency Report Centre at (613) 533-6111
or Call 911
Once the immediate needs for safety has been satisfied, a must be filed.
Immediate options for safety and medical attention:
- Call 911 or 皇冠体育鈥檚 24 hour Emergency Report Centre at (613) 533-6111.
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Go to KHSC/KGH site Emergency Department and ask for the Sexual Assault/ Domestic Violence nurse.
- The Kingston Health Sciences Centre Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Program is available for medical care, STI and pregnancy prevention, and evidence collection.
Campus Information and Supports:
- 皇冠体育鈥檚 University Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Coordinator (SVPRC), provides support and information about roles and responsibilities related to disclosures, policy, counselling, reporting, and accommodation options.
- SVPRServices@queensu.ca
Situations requiring attention
Make a Care referral if a student is experiencing:
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Serious academic concerns.
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Listlessness or falling asleep in class.
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Considering withdrawal.
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In jeopardy of failing.
Refer a student to Student Wellness Services for the following changes in regular behaviour:
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Withdrawal from social interactions or academic work.
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Changes in behavior that may indicate mental health concerns (e.g. unexpected tearfulness, laughing without clear context, unusually rapid speech, difficulty organizing thoughts, or heightened suspicion).
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Changes in relationships or social behaviour (withdrawal, isolation, or hyper-dependency).
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Significant and unexplained weight loss or gain.
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Physical symptoms (nausea, headaches, problems with eating, excessive or disrupted sleep).
Refer a student to Student Wellness Services for the following behaviours:
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Challenges communicating (difficulty forming thoughts, completing sentences, irrational conversations).
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Distortions of reality.
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Difficulty concentrating or communicating.
Refer a student to the Human Rights and Equity Office regarding concerns about harassment (persistent, unwanted behaviour including sexual harassment) or discrimination (613) 533-6886.
If the situation involves risk or threat of harm, call 皇冠体育鈥檚 24 hr. Emergency Report Centre (613) 533-6111.
Make a Care referral for any aggressive behaviours. This includes, but is not limited to,
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Concerning emails.
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Worrisome comments made on assignments or tests.
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Aggressive behaviours.
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Concerning social media posts.
Make a Care referral for concerns around a students change in drug or alcohol use.
Students with developing needs
Connect your student to an appropriate campus resource. The Student Affairs Student Resource Page offers a list of resources.
Connect a student to appropriate resources. The Student Affairs Student Resource Page offers a list of resources across campus and in the community.
Connect a student to appropriate support. The Student Affairs Student Resource Page offers a list of resources.
Office of the University Ombudsperson
The role of the Office of the University Ombudsperson is to ensure procedural fairness in university decision making. They are an important resource to the 皇冠体育's community in helping students, staff, faculty, parents, and alumni understand policies and procedures within the university.
Making a good referral
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Tell the student that seeking help is a sign of strength rather than weakness.
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If the student appears reluctant, you can help by:
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Offering to contact the resource on their behalf while they are in your office.
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Offering to sit with the student while they make the initial contact themselves.
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Accompanying the student, if appropriate and you feel comfortable.
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Offer to follow-up with the student, but do not insist on knowing what the student has done.
How to speak to a student about a Care referral
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Let the student know that you are connecting them to Care.
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Assure them that making a referral allows for academic, personal concerns to be responded to in a coordinated way.
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Ensure that the students know they are not in trouble.
Supporting Students in Distress PDF Document
The Supporting Students in Distress PDF contains all the information on this page in a downloadable, printable document. Please feel free to print for your reference.