- Withdrawal from others
- Loss of pleasure in everyday activities
- Change in personal appearance (increasingly unkempt or lack of personal hygiene)
- Change in friends
- Easily discouraged; defeatist attitude
- Low frustration tolerance (outbursts)
- Unpredictable behavior and/or destructive behavior
- Terse replies to questions or conversation
- Sad or forlorn expression
- Lying
- Poor classroom attendance
- Decline in academic performance
- Apathy or loss of interest
- Change in sleep pattern ranging from excessive sleep to inability to sleep
- Frequent excuses for absences from planned activities
- Change in weight or eating behavior
When such signs appear in friends,
DO
- Express your concern and caring using “I” statements
- Be ready to listen and be nonjudgmental in your approach
- Communicate your desire to help
- Make concrete suggestions as to where the student can find help or and offer to accompany student to meeting or group
- Try to get the student to seek professional help
- Submit a Student of Concern Report to seek assistance from campus resources
- Be persistent
- Understand that the definition of friendship includes making difficult decisions that may anger your friends
DON’T
- Take the situation lightly or as a joke
- Be offended if the student tries to avoid you
- Take “I don’t have a problem” as an answer
- Try to handle the student alone without assistance
- Lecture about right and wrong
- Promote feelings of guilt about grades or anything else
- Gossip: speak of it only to those who can help
- Excuse behavior because “everybody does it”
- Continue using alcohol or other drugs with student