Student Affairs

• Deteriorating academic performance
• Poor attendance
• Abrupt changes in behavior
• Isolation from others
• Poor appearance or hygiene
• Physical changes such as sudden weight loss or weight gain
• High levels of anxiety
• Sudden outbursts of anger
• Uncharacteristic memory or attention issues
• Signs of substance abuse
• Fatigue, low energy, and depression
• Outbursts of crying
• Irritability or restlessness
• Expressions of suicidal thoughts or feelings
• Expressions of low self-esteem
• Poor social skills
• Excessive dependence
• Bizarre or erratic conduct
• Threats to self or others

Yes. Someone who is experiencing one or more of the following stressful situations is more likely to need support:

• Academic failure
• Job problems
• Financial pressures
• Health issues
• Relationship difficulties such as a breakup
• A loss (or the anticipation of losing someone)
• Being the victim of sexual misconduct

• If you feel comfortable doing so, talk to the student or employee in private. Express concern and listen carefully. Suggest a way to get help. Students can be referred to the nurse, the counseling office or the Dean of Students. Assure the student that the nurse and counseling office services are free and confidential. Employees can be referred to Carol Matos.
• If you do not feel comfortable approaching a student or fellow employee yourself, you don’t have to. Reach out to any member of the C.A.R. E. Team or fill out the referral form on the intranet.
• Let the person know that you are going to reach out to let the nurse, counseling office, Dean of Students, or the Office of Human Relations know to expect them. You can even walk them over to get help.

• Do not feel you have to take the situation or the person on yourself!
• Do not discuss the student’s or employee’s situation widely; MSM is a small community and word gets around. Only discuss the situation with those who need to know to help the student or employee.
• While you are naturally and appropriately concerned and will wish to follow up, the nurse and counseling staff are bound by confidentiality laws. They will share as much as they can and no more.

• The C.A.R.E. Team will be working to manage the physical, psychological, and, in the case of students, academic needs of the individual who needs C.A.R.E. intervention.
• You may not hear back from the C.A.R.E. team but that does not mean nothing is happening. The need for confidentiality will often limit the amount the C.A.R.E. Team can communicate.
• Do not contact friends and family of the individual you are referring. Leave it to the C.A.R.E. Team to decide when it is legal and appropriate to contact friends and family of a referred person.