Report of the Committee on Campus Violence: Appendix H

Report of the Committee on Campus Violence
The Johns Hopkins University / March 27, 1997

Appendix H
Counseling and Student Development Center Memo

Counseling and Student Development Center
Merryman Hall, West Wing
3400 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218-2690
(410) 516-8278

January 28, 1997

TO: Faculty and Staff

FR: Michael Mond, Ph.D., Director
The Johns Hopkins University Counseling and Student Development Center

RE: A) Description of the Center
       B) Recongizing distressed students
       C) Guidelines for dealing with distressed students
       D) Guidelines for dealing with potentially dangerous students
       E) Referral Information

The Counseling and Student Development Center (C&SDC) wishes to welcome you back for the start of a new semester. The purpose of this letter is: a)to make you aware of the services and structure of the C&SDC, b) to offer you assistance in recognizing psychologically distressed students, c) to provide some useful tips in utilizing appropriate C&SDC services, d) to offer direction when encountering potentially dangerous students, and e) to furnish a summary list of referral sources for students in need of psychological assistance.

A) Description of the Center: Services and Structure

The Counseling and Student Development Center is a multi- department service center in the Division of Homewood Student Affairs. It is located in the West Wing of Merryman Hall. The Center brings together two related offices to provide personal and developmental services to students in a coordinated fashion. The primary mission of the department is to assist students toward the successful completion of their academic programs through maintaining and enhancing students' psychological and emotional well-being and promoting students' normal development and maturation. Additionally, a wide offering of education and support programs are designed to foster student development as healthy, thoughtful, responsible, respectful and productive members of a diverse community who will be able to function at their full potential. The two departments which comprise the C&SDC are the Counseling Center and Career Planning and Development Office.

The Counseling Center (410-516-8278), directed by Dr. Michael Mond, is the primary source for psychological and career counseling for undergraduate and graduated students, as well as the provider of 24 emergency psychological services. The Counseling Center is staffed by professional counselors including psychologists, consulting psychiatrists, and social workers. The Counseling Center also provides consultation to faculty and staff on student and student-life problems. Career Planning and Development (410-516-8056), formerly Career Services, provides career planning and placement services to students seeking full- time employment, workshops on job searches, assistance with resume writing and interviewing techniques, and a career resource library. The Director for Career Planning and Development is Patricia Matteo.

B) Recognizing Distressed Students

As a member of the faculty or staff you may find yourself in a position to observe and recognize changes in students which signal psychological distress. This is not to imply that you are to be a "watch dog," but rather that students often seek out faculty and staff to share their distress. Being cognizant of these distress signals, having some guidelines for dealing with distressed students, and being aware of appropriate referral sources that can assist you will allow you to be more in control of situations which may present themselves. Listed below are some common signs of psychological distress. This list is intended to provide only basic information.

1) Depression. Everyone gets depressed from time to time. That is normal. Having only one symptom is usually not enough to describe someone as severely depressed. Abnormality may be defined as maintaining a larger number of depressive symptoms over a longer period of time with the symptoms tending to become progressively more severe. The symptoms of depression are: insomnia or change in sleep patterns, inability to concentrate, change in appetite, loss of ability to experience happiness or pleasure, apathy, sloppiness, crying, poor personal hygiene, feeling of worthlessness, no desire to socialize, loss of self- esteem, and preoccupation with death.
2) Unusual acting out. This would represent a change in behavior from normal socially appropriate behavior. It would include being disruptive, overly antagonistic, and may include increased alcohol or drug use.
3) Suicidal ideation. Most suicide attempts are preceded at some point by messages that the person is considering suicide. These messages can range from "I wish I wasn't here," to a very director "I'm going to kill myself." Non-verbal messages include: giving away valued possessions, and putting legal, financial, and university affairs in order. Each type of message about suicide should be taken seriously.
4) Other signs of distress. Again, the more symptoms observed the more likely the individual is to be truly distressed. These signs include: drop in class attendance, drop in quality of class work, generally tense or sad appearance such as a change from normal appearance, and typically inappropriate or bizarre responses such as talking off-the-subject and rambling.

C) Guidelines for Dealing with Distressed Students

There are no absolutely correct procedures for dealing with a distressed student. Each person has their own style of approaching and responding to others. Listed below are some suggestions for dealing with a distressed student.

1) Know your personal limits as a helper. You may not feel comfortable trying to help someone cope with their problem; that is, you sense that the person is in need of much more time than you can honestly give or requires much deeper exploration of the problem area. Your best course of action probably lies in helping them get to an agency which can provide the necessary services. To do this you can:

a) reinforce the person for confiding in you; acknowledge their hurting,

b) be accepting and non-judgmental,

c) try to identify the problem area,

d) indicate in a gentle but direct manner that professional assistance is the positive step which is needed to deal with the pain, and that you will assist them in finding competent professionals.

An Example

A student comes into your office and begins to describe problems that are interfering with his/her academic work. At a break in the discussion, you might say:

"It sounds as though you have been under stress, aren't doing very well, and need to talk with someone about this. I would suggest you see someone at the Counseling Center. I could call and make arrangements for you right now. What do you think about that?"

2) If you are concerned about a student's suicide potential keep in mind that professionals assess the suicide potential, in part, by asking: a) What the plan for suicide is -- exactly how will they do it?

b) When and where they intend to carry out the plan?

c) If they've ever attempted suicide before.

The more specific and lethal the plan, the more recent a previous attempt, and the greater the ability to carry out the plan, the higher the risk for a successful suicide. You need not be afraid to ask these questions. For people who are considering suicide, these questions will not furnish them with new ideas. Most people who are actively suicidal are more than willing to discuss their plan. Conversely, many people consider suicide from time to time in passing. The less specific and lethal the plan (e.g. "I guess I'd take a couple sleeping pills sometime."), the less likely a suicide attempt.

Please, again, keep in mind that if you are uncomfortable or have any questions in dealing with this issue, the best course of action is to consult with the Counseling Center.

3) If you believe someone to be so severely depressed or actively suicidal that you would feel uncomfortable if they simply walked out of your office, you can do the following:

a) Call the Counseling Center, 410-516-8278 (between 8:30am and 5:00pm). Inform the secretary that you need to speak with a counselor immediately and then consult with the emergency duty counselor about the immediate situation. After office hours or on weekends, you may call Campus Security, 410-516-7777, and they will assist you in reaching an emergency duty counselor.

b) If the student is agreeable, you may escort or send the student to the Counseling Center and ask to see the counselor on- call. A Counseling Center staff person is available during center hours for emergencies.

D) Guideline for dealing with students who may be potentially dangerous to others.

From time to time you may become aware of or develop a concern that a student may be dangerous to others. This may be manifested by:

a) Physically violent behavior

b) Verbally threatening or overly aggressive behavior

c) Threatening e-mail or letters

d) Threatening or violent material on academic papers or exams

e) Harassment, including sexual harassment and stalking

f) Possession of a weapon, particularly a fire-arm

Sometimes these behaviors are the result of or are exacerbated by mental illness. You need to take appropriate action to protect both the potential victim and the potentially dangerous student. If the danger appears imminent, you should contact campus security (410-516-7777) immediately for assistance. If you are uncertain about the course of action to take it is recommended you contact any or all of the following for consultation and assistance.

b) The Dean of Students, Dr. Susan Boswell at 410-516-8208,

c) The Counseling and Student Development Center at (daytime: 410-516-8278; after hours through Campus Security at 410-516- 7777),

d) Campus Security at 410-516-7777 (who may contact Baltimore City police if appropriate).

The Dean of Students Office, the Counseling and Student Development Center, and Campus Security Office often work together to investigate and assess the dangerousness of a student, to help formulate preventative interventions, and outline and provide security measures that might be available to those who have this need.

Letter to faculty (including violence section) revised 1-28-97_letter.

Campus Resources

Psychological Emergencies
Call Counseling and Student Development Center, 410-516-8278.
Monday through Friday: From 8:30am to 5:00pm, Merryman Hall, West Wing, Homewood
At all other times call Campus Security, 410-516-7777, to reach an emergency duty counselor.

Medical Emergencies
Call Campus Security, 410-516-7777 (24 hours/day).

Medical Services
Call the Student Health and Wellness Center, 410-516-8270.
Monday through Friday: 8:30am to 6:00pm; Saturday: 9:00am to 12 noon.

Physically Abusive Students
Call Campus Security, 410-516-7777 (24 hours/day).

Off-Campus Psychological Resources

North Baltimore Center Outpatient Clinic, 410-366-4360. 2224 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218.
Offers low cost psychiatric services for individuals in crisis during working hours for individuals living in the North Baltimore area.

Union Memorial Hospital Emergency Room, 410-554-2600. 201 East University Parkway, Baltimore, MD 21218.
Offers emergency evaluation for psychiatric problems, It is the closest emergency facility to the Homewood Campus.

Johns Hopkins Hospital Adult Ermegency Services, 410-955- 2280. 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205.
Offers emergency evaulation for psychiatric problems.

Other Hospital Emergency Rooms (Check your telephone book for the hospital closest to you.)

Mental Health Emergency Service of Baltimore County, 410-484- 8282.
Provides a 24-hour Counseling and Information and Referral Service for those seeking psychiatric care.

Grassroots Crisis Intervention, 410-513-6677. Located in Howard County.
Provides a 24-hour hotline and crisis intervention service for individuals experiencing emotional stress throughout central Maryland. Also provides extensive information and referral in the Baltimore area.

Johns Hopkins Hospital Community Psychiatric Program, 410-955- 3861. 601 North Wolfe Street, Meyer 144, Baltimore, MD 21205
Offers outpatient psychiatric evaluations and mental health services.

Letter to faculty (including violence section) revised 1-28-97_letter

Go to Report of the Committee on Campus Violence Table of Contents

Go Back to JHUNIVERSE Home Page