The PCC staff are experts in mental health issues of college students. We provide information, education and recommendations to students, faculty, staff and family members regarding psychological concerns specific to the healthy development of young adults in an academic setting. The following are situations representative of phone consults with other students, family, faculty, Residence Life, etc.:
- Homesickness
- Sadness over a relationship breakup
- Difficulty transitioning to college
- Stress
- Academic failure due to a mental health crisis
- Roommate problems
- Grief over the sudden death of a friend
- Unwanted sexual experiences
- Impact of separation and divorce
- Acting out in the classroom
- Classroom information revealing suicide, cutting, eating disorders or drug abuse
- Suicidal thoughts and/or behaviors
Phone calls and face to face consultation services are a regular part of our responsibility to the college community. Every day of the semester, we guide and inform concerned members of the college regarding concerns about students. For example, a faculty member whose student writes about depression and suicide in a paper may call the Center to discuss what was written in the paper and observations about the student. As a result of this consultation, the PCC staff will make recommendations as to how to speak with the student, and how to refer to the Counseling Center. In most situations, the PCC acts as a consultant to the person calling, helping that person to respond more effectively to the student of concern.
Whether or not a student has been to the Counseling Center is confidential. Protection of the confidentiality that a student is or is not coming to the Counseling Center is Legally protected confidential client-therapist information.
In situations where PCC assess a risk of suicide or harm to others, including to faculty, staff or another student, a decision may be made by the Counseling Center staff to contact the student of concern directly to ensure safety. As soon as you observe that a student may be having family problems, may be depressed, and may be struggling with mental health issues, contact the Counseling Center at 257-2920 for consultation so that we can work together to prevent further psychological difficulties from occurring. See For Faculty/Staff Concerned About A Student.
