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When to Refer a Student to a Mental Health Professional

Most of the students you will encounter will be seeking support, advice, or information. Occasionally, you may advise a student who is experiencing a good deal of psychological distress. This may be evident in the following ways.

1. When a student states they are no longer able to function in their normal capacity within their classes. When they have seen a drop in grades or academic performance.
2. When a student can no longer cope with their day-to-day activities and responsibilities. A student may state they are no longer going to classes or they have been late for their job and may be fired soon if this continues.
3. A student expresses depressive symptoms such as: sleep disturbance, sudden weight loss or weight gain, crying spells, fatigue, loss of interest or pleasure in previous enjoyable activities, and/or inability to concentrate or complete tasks.
4. A student expresses severe anxiety symptoms such as: feelings of panic, shortness of breath, headaches, sweaty palms, dry mouth, or racing thoughts.
5. A student expresses suicidal thoughts or feelings.
6. A student has no support. They have no friends or have no friends they can talk to about their sexual orientation. This person may not need counseling, but could benefit from the campus “Coming Out” Rap Group (Contact: fisherm@email.unc.edu)
7. Consult your list of Safe Zone members that are in UNC Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS, 966-3658), when making a referral but keep in mind these people may not be available.
8. A good guideline to use if all else fails: If you are feeling overwhelmed or worried about a student, referring them to a mental health professional would probably be appropriate.

Trust your instinct. It's usually right!

Referring a Student

Referring a student should be done in a constructive, positive way.

• It took a lot of courage for a student to come to you in the first place so support them.
• Encourage them to speak with a counselor. Tell them you don' t have all the answers but you can help them find those who do.
• Communicate that you are not abandoning them, invite them to return any time
• Help them make appointments if necessary.
• Be sure to convey that counseling is a tool for their use and that it doesn’t indicate that something is wrong with them.

Questions, Comments? Email us at lgbt@unc.edu