Signs of mild to moderate Distress:

• Deteriorating academic performance
• May include: change from passing grades to unaccountably poor performance, incapacitating test anxiety, sporadic class attendance or extended absences from class, missed assignments.
• Changes in mood, relationships, behavior
• May include: appearing confused, irritable, anxious, depressed, unmotivated, lethargic, rapid speech, swollen, red eyes; market change in personal dress, hygiene, falling asleep during class.
• Begins or increases alcohol use
• Repeated requests for special consideration
• Shows signs of injury to self, cuts bruises or sprains

Signs of severe distress or crisis:

• highly disruptive behavior (ie hostility, aggression, violence, etc.)
• inability to communicate clearly (garbled, slurred speech; unconnected, disjointed, or rambling thoughts).
• loss of contact with reality.
• displays extreme suspiciousness or irrational fears, withdraws, isolates, believes he/she is being watched or followed
• stalking behaviors.
• inappropriate communications (including threatening letters, email messages, harassment)
• makes statements regarding suicide, homicide, feelings of hopeless and helplessness (including referring to suicide as current option or in a written assignment).
• threat to harm others.

Signs of threatening behavior:

• A student violates your personal space
• A student raises his/her voice and seems irrational
• A student implies or makes a direct threat to harm themselves or others
• A student displays a firearm or weapon
• A student physically confronts/attacks another student
• A student stalks or harasses a faculty member
• A student sends threatening emails, letters, and other correspondence to a staff/faculty
• An ex-boyfriend or girlfriend stalks a colleague