Recognizing Behaviors

Recognizing behaviors that indicate an individual might need assistance or intervention

Level 1: Distress

An individual exhibiting these behaviors may need some level of assistance or support.

• Change from good to poor academic performance or persistent and serious grade problems
• Change from frequent attendance to excessive absences
• Change in pattern of interaction in the classroom or among peers
• Change in mood, motor activity, speech, or physical appearance

Level 2: Disturbance

An individual exhibiting these behaviors may be experiencing emotional difficulties that impedes his/her judgement. This individual may be reluctant to or even completely unaware that he/she should seek professional help.

• Repeated requests for special consideration in the classroom
• New and/or continuous interruptions that disrupt and fracture the classroom environment
• Unusual, inappropriate, and/or exaggerated emotional responses that do not relate to the situation or the experience

Taking Action: Responses to Level 1 and Level 2 Behaviors

• Calmly talk to the individual in private when you both have time
• Express your concern in non-judgmental terms
• Listen to the individual and repeat what he/she says
• Clarify the pros and cons of each option for handling the problem from the individual’s point of view
• Respect the individual’s value system
• Ask if the student is considering suicide
• Make appropriate referrals if necessary
• Make sure the individual understands what action is necessary

Level 3: Crisis

An individual exhibiting these behaviors is experiencing severe distress and possibly needs immediate, professional care.

• Demonstrates hostile, aggressive, and/or violent behavior
• Communicates in a confusing, garbled, slurred, or disjointed manner
• Fails to connect with reality as represented by seeing/hearing things that are not there and/or discussing beliefs or exhibiting actions that are counter to reality.
• Communicates suicidal thoughts as represented by discussing suicide is current option
• Displays a deficiency to regulate emotional, cognitive, self-controlling behaviors in relationships

Taking Action: Responses to Level 3 Behaviors

• Remain calm
• Contact: emergency referrals