The number of students entering college with a prior psychiatric history or a documented disability continues to increase. Many chronic psychiatric disorders present for the first time in late adolescence and early adulthood. With support, these students have the opportunity to succeed. 

While the likelihood of experiencing a student who is a potential danger to him or herself or others is unlikely; it is a reality nationwide that we need to be alert to possible warning signs of student distress or troubled/inappropriate behavior.

Behavior: 

• Loss of interest in previously important or pleasurable activities
• Recent drop in grades, missed classes, poor attendance, repeated tardiness
• Talking/writing about suicide or violence toward others
• Unruliness and disrespect of University authorities
• Changes in sleep patterns; too much or too little
• Abrupt changes or wide variations in mood; angry and hostile, overactive and excitable or withdrawn and passive
• Increasing secrecy about actions, friends, possessions
• Hidden evidence of drug use such as bottles, pipes, and/or pills of unknown origin, etc.
• Obvious withdrawal from family, friends or interests
• Stealing, lying
• Excessively watching violent movies on TV or computers and/or reading violent materials
• Giving away possessions
• Coming to class intoxicated
• Decreased concentration
• Increased disorganization  
• Extreme sensitivity to being rejected or failing at something
• Frequent complaints of physical symptoms that do not appear to have an identifiable cause
• Risk taking

 Friends:

• Friends who are, in your judgement, "bad influences"  
• A sudden shift from one peer group to another

Appearance:

• Smell of alcohol on breath
• Caring less about personal appearance.
• Difficulty with psychomotor tasks (doing things very slowly)
• Abrupt changes in style of dress or appearance
• Unusually frequent use of breath mints
• Bloodshot or watery eyes
• Dilated or constricted pupils
• Runny nose or frequent coughing

If you have concern regarding one of your students as a result of the warning signs listed above, do not hesitate to call Counseling Services at X4526 for a consultation.