Supporting Students in Need
For medical emergencies, please call 911 immediately.
Faculty or staff members may be the first to notice a student who might be struggling or in distress. You can provide useful information to assist the student in getting help. You should not take on the role of parent or counsellor or try to diagnose a student.
When responding to students needing support, it is important to understand the following steps:
- Recognize the indicators of mental illness.
- Respond to the student in a way that is appropriate to the situation at hand and the existing relationship you have with the student.
- Refer the student to the appropriate resources so they can access the services available.
Tips for speaking with a student you think might be struggling:
- Meet in a private place where you won’t be interrupted (only if you’re comfortable doing so).
- Express your concern in a positive tone and point out specific behaviours that concern you.
- Ask how things are going for the person.
- Listen with empathy and without judgment, encourage them to elaborate.
- Remember, opening up can be difficult and emotional for both you and the person you are speaking with.
- Avoid promising to keep the person's concerns a secret. If the person expresses something that might indicate a safety risk, you should always contact someone else who can help.
- Ask how you could support them, or what they would find helpful. You may not be able to accommodate every aspect of their request, however being askes "how can I support you?" often means a great deal to the person who is struggling. Consider the request and share with the student how you can assist them. If possible, provide options that support the student and align with institutional policies and your needs for the course.
- It is OK to share a personal story and strategies that work for you; however, it is important to remember that different situations and health conditions require different treatment approaches. It is best to utilize professional mental health support for advice or recommendations on treatment and interventions.
- Ensure you let the person know about the different options and resources to find help (see the resources below).
- You don't have to deal with everything yourself. If you feel uncomfortable with what the student is sharing, or the student is in extreme distress, find another staff or faculty member to assist you. If the student is able, walk with them to Counselling Services.
How to respond to a distressing email from a student
- Validate the student's concern.
- Inform them of the available resources and helplines. Provide a link to Campus Wellness and assure them that out services are confidential.
- If you think the student might be at risk of harming themselves, encourage them strongly to go to the hospital and contact someone they trust in person. Afterwards, email/call Counselling Services and ask them to follow-up with the student through a wellness check.
Resources for Students
The University of Waterloo has a large variety of resources to support students. For a larger list of resources both on/off campus please visit the Campus Wellness resources database. For simplification, we have organized resources by type. Counselling Services also has some resources for faculty and staff on how to support students in need. If you are looking for a particular resource and cannot find it below, please email us at ENGTL@uwaterloo.ca.
Please note, the lists below are not exhaustive. Additional resources may be available.
Can't find what you are looking for? Please contact the Community Wellness Team. If you notice any broken links, typos, or have suggestions, please let us know through our website feedback form.