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Faculty and staff at SUNY Fredonia are involved in students' lives through a number of important roles that may include being an educator, advisor, mentor, and counselor. Faculty and staff are in a unique position to directly observe students on a regular basis and notice emotional, social, or behavioral troubles or concerns. Often times, faculty/staff contact or refer students to the SUNY Fredonia Counseling Center (SFCC) based on written assignments or conversations in which a student shares emotional experiences or traumatic events. Students receiving counseling at the SFCC often say that such services enable them to better cope with the difficulties they face, and to remain in school and maximize their college experience. If you are a member of the faculty or staff, you should know that your intervention in assisting students to seek psychological services is significant to a student's career and retention at SUNY Fredonia. What To Watch Out ForThe following is a list of indicators that may signify that a student is struggling in some way, and may need a referral to the SFCC:
What To DoIf you are concerned about a student, you may contact the SFCC at (716) 673-3424 for a consultation, or you may refer the student to the SFCC directly: how to refer students. The SFCC provides a 24-hour emergency service to the College. If a crisis arises during working hours, contact the SFCC directly. Outside of regularly scheduled working hours please contact University Police (673-3333). If your emergency requires medical attention, University Police should be notified immediately. Mental Health Statement for Faculty SyllabiThe SUNY Fredonia Counseling Center regularly receives calls from faculty and staff regarding students who might be experiencing distress. In an effort to be more proactive in minimizing the potential negative outcome of students in distress, the statement below was generated for faculty members to consider including on their syllabi; the statement might also be used to encourage classroom conversations about the stigma that keeps students from getting professional help. Reducing the stigma about accessing mental health care can lead to a culture on the SUNY Fredonia campus where students seek professional help when it is needed. We invite you to work with us toward reducing the stigma about accessing mental health care so that students are not afraid to seek professional help. Syllabi Insert: Diminished mental health, including significant stress, mood changes, excessive worry, or problems with eating and/or sleeping can interfere with optimal academic performance. The source of symptoms might be strictly related to your course work; if so, please speak with me. However, problems with relationships, family worries, loss, or a personal struggle or crisis can also contribute to decreased academic performance. SUNY Fredonia provides a Counseling Center to support the academic success of students. The Counseling Center provides cost-free services to help you manage personal challenges that threaten your well-being. Visit www.fredonia.edu/counseling for more information. In the event I suspect you need additional support, I will express my concerns and the reasons for them, and remind you of resources (e.g., Counseling Center, Health Center, etc.) that might be helpful to you. It is not my intention to know the details of what might be bothering you, but simply to let you know I am concerned and that help, if needed, is available. Getting help is a smart and courageous thing to do -- for yourself and for your loved ones. A Note About ConfidentialityThere have been occasions when faculty/staff have referred a student to the SFCC and wanted some type of follow-up contact from the SFCC counselor in order to know that the student actually did come for an appointment. Counselors are bound by legal and ethical guidelines to maintain confidentiality. Thus, faculty and staff should be aware that the SFCC counselors cannot tell anyone that a student is coming for services. Information can only be released with the written consent of the student, except in situations where a student poses a threat of serious harm to self or to others, or in the case of abuse/neglect of a minor, or in the case of a court-ordered release of information. An attempt will be made by the counseling center staff to get a release signed by the referred student so that notification and coordination of services will be possible. |