Resources for Faculty & Staff

Information Especially for Residence Hall Staff

As residence hall staff members, you are in the unique position of interacting with students in their living environments. Because of your role, you likely will have occasions in which students are in crisis after hours or during the night. As a supplement to the information provided in the previous section, this section addresses issues unique to residence hall staff who are dealing with students in distress after hours.

Direct Referrals to the Counseling Center from Department of Residence Life

Resident Directors, Hall Directors, Complex Directors and Area Coordinators can directly refer a student to the Counseling Center by completing the Consultation/Referral Form. Once the form has been completed, with signed authorization from the student, fax it to us at 353-5582. Once received a counselor will attempt to contact the student and either schedule the student for assessment or provide a community referral.

What Should I Do if a Student is in Distress and the Counseling Center is Closed?

If a student is in distress, and it is after hours, it may be helpful for you, the residence hall staff member, to talk with the student and determine whether he/she can wait for help (Functional or Chronic - lower risk) or whether immediate attention is required (Critical - higher risk). Remember, it is always good practice to consult with other residence hall staff when in doubt. In all cases, residence hall mentors/community coordinators/community peers should always follow the Mental Health Response Protocol. You were trained to use it in August, 2005. For critical non-emergency cases, contact the ADH or Unit Director on duty. For critical/emergency cases, call 911 and then contact the AHD or Unit Director on Duty.

Risk can be tricky to determine, and again, it is very important to consult with other staff when you are faced with these types of decisions. Do not make these types of decisions alone. In general, risk is commonly determined by whether 1.) the student is in immediate danger of harming him/herself or someone else; OR 2.) the student is showing signs that he/she has lost touch with reality (bizarre behavior, hallucinations, extreme paranoia).

Often, risk can be even more difficult to determine when alcohol or other substances are involved. However, the rule “it is better to be safe than sorry” applies here, and once again it is important that you seek consultation with other staff. Remember that alcohol or drug intoxication also carries risks with regard to impulsive behavior, poor decision-making, and mood swings, and therefore it is important to not simply assume that a student will simply “sleep it off.”

If you feel that the student’s (or your) safety is at risk, it is important that you call for help immediately. Here are three phone numbers you may need to use:

  • Dial 911
  • Ingham County Emergency Services: (517) 351-2590
  • MSU Department of Police and Public Safety: (517) 355-2221

 

If you feel that the student’s safety is not at immediate risk (i.e., he/she does not intend to commit suicide or homicide in the immediate future), it may be helpful for you to suggest that the student call the Counseling Center when it opens at 8 a.m. the next morning (or the next business day) and schedule an appointment. When the student calls the Counseling Center the next morning, one of two things typically happen:

  • Often, a student may feel that they are in distress but are able to wait several days for their first appointment. If this is the case, a regular appointment will be scheduled when he/she calls the Counseling Center.
  • If a student feels they are in crisis and cannot wait for an appointment at the Counseling Center, they may be able to meet with the “counselor on duty” the same day they call.

The Counseling Center Liaisons welcome calls from Resident Directors, Hall Directors, Complex Directors and Area Coordinators who wish to consult about their residents’ mental health concerns. We ask that mentors follow the Mental Health Response Protocol and consult with their assistant hall directors and complex director first. The Counseling Center is happy to assist any Residence Hall staff member who feels the need to debrief after an especially difficult experience.

I’ve Referred One of My Residents to the Counseling Center. How Will I Know If They Went to Their Counseling Appointment?

If the student that you referred has signed the Consultation/Referral form, we are permitted to let you know if they made and/or kept their appointment. The Counseling Center will automatically return the form to you when the referral is completed. Because of confidentiality, the Counseling Center is unable to provide this information unless the student has signed the Consultation/Referral form or another release of information form.