How to Support a Student in Distress

If a student is in immediate danger and intervention needs to occur very quickly, please contact the following:

Alert Counseling and Wellness by phone or walk in for urgent care service: +974 4454 5073 or 5503-2187; or
Contact the Director of Student Affairs office at +974 4454 5084; or
If after-hours and on campus call Education City Security: +974 4454 0999; or
If after-hours and off campus call 999

There are several ways to make a referral to Counseling Services if you are concerned about a student:

Encourage the student to visit Counseling Services. Students may walk in between the hours of 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Sundays and Mondays and 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Thursdays.
Invite the student to accompany you to Counseling Services. Often students will agree to come to Counseling Services in the company of a friend or mentor when they would otherwise be reluctant to come by themselves.
If appropriate, have the student call from your phone and speak with Counseling Services. The therapist may invite the student to come over to Counseling Services the same day.

Signs of Student Distress

Certain events in a person’s life can trigger a crisis. What may seem of minor importance to one person can be extremely distressing to another. The kinds of events that may trigger a crisis in the life of a college student might include:

Breakup or rejection in an important relationship
An abusive or controlling relationship or incident of sexual assault
Loss of an important opportunity, goal, or status
Academic failure
Facing legal or administrative sanctions and consequences
Death of a loved one

Below is a listing of possible behavioral changes you may see in a student who is in distress:

Mood changes
Feelings of helplessness or hopelessness
Lack of energy
Increasingly sad or depressed mood
Very flat; apathetic
Increased irritability, anger, or restlessness
Increased anxiousness, panic, or persistent worrying

Academic behaviors:

Extreme procrastination and/or poorly prepared schoolwork
Infrequent class attendance
Inability to concentrate
Falling asleep in class
Disturbing material in academic assignments
Impaired speech or disjointed thoughts
Hyperactivity or very rapid speech
Strange or bizarre behavior

Interpersonal behaviors:

Social withdrawal, isolation
Unable to enjoy activities that are normally enjoyable
Having trouble leaving one's residence hall, house, or apartment
Threatens, talks about, or hints at doing harm to self or others

Physical Changes

Sleeping too much or too little, erratic sleep patterns
Always tired or very restless
Changes in eating habits and weight
Apathy about appearance, health, or personal hygiene

If you become concerned about a student and would like to consult with a therapist, please email patricia.collins@northwestern.edu or call +974 4454 5073. Counseling and Wellness staff are available to offer consultation to anyone concerned about a member of the university community.