Crisis Control: Helping a Friend in Need
Steps you can take to assist a fellow student who is having a mental or emotional crisis.By Gabriela Szewcow, student, Elon University
When some students feel disconnected or depressed at college, their emotional or mental state can reach a crisis level, and they may not have a personal support network or know where to turn for help. As a fellow student, you may have the opportunity and power to help. Sometimes, peers can make a difference in a way that parents and advisors can’t.
According to the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, “you may know your college friends better than their own parents do. And you may be able to tell that something is wrong with one of your classmates when professors and faculty advisors can’t. You can use you insights to help your friends and classmates find help when they are having problems.”
How to Recognize Trouble
It’s not always easy to tell whether a person is in a state of crisis. The most obvious sign is an extreme change in behavior, says Dr. Michael Loughead, a psychologist and adjunct professor at Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania. He says to also look for expressions of sadness, hopelessness, or anger.
Be an Active Listener
“If students are in crisis, they often need someone to listen to them,” says Dr. Loughead. “You have to make that person feel safe and give them attention.”
“You have to make the person feel understood,” says Dr. Rick Brinkman, a naturopathic physician in Portland, Oregon.
Get the Right Help
When Jason Mroz, a student at West Virginia University in Morgantown, felt his roommate was in crisis, he contacted the head of residence life on his campus to get help. That person connected his roommate with a school psychologist who was able to help the roommate.
If you feel someone is in emotional/mental crisis, finding professional help is crucial. Talk to someone in the counseling department at your school to see how to proceed.
“When you help someone and make a difference,” says Dr. Loughead, “there’s no better feeling than that.”
GABRIELA SZEWCOW IS A STUDENT MAJORING IN PRINT AND ONLINE JOURNALISM AT ELON UNIVERSITY IN NORTH CAROLINA. SHE IS THE DESIGN CHIEF OF ELON’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER, THE PENDULUM, AND A CONTRIBUTING WRITER FOR HERCAMPUS.COM.
Find Out MoreClick to find out more about how to help a distressed friend
