Faculty and staff at SUNY New Paltz 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.
In the past, faculty/staff have contacted or referred students to the Psychological Counseling Center (PCC) based on written assignments or conversations in which a student shares emotional experiences or traumatic events. Students receiving counseling at the PCC 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, your intervention in assisting students to seek psychological services is significant to a student's career and retention at SUNY New Paltz.
What to Watch Out For
The following is a list of indicators that may signify that a student is struggling in some way, and may need a referral to the PCC:
- Recent Crisis
- Talk of Suicide
- Social Withdrawal
- Drop in Academic Grades/Performance
- Negative Changes in Physical Appearance
- Psychosomatic Complaints
- Bizarre Behavior
- Illogical/Unusual Thoughts
- Increased Irritability
- Alcohol or Other Substance Abuse
- Writing about not being able to go on, being a burdon, suicide
What to Do
If you are concerned about a student, contact the PCC at 257-2920 for a consultation, or you may refer the student to the PCC directly.
Outside of regularly scheduled working hours please contact the University Police (257-2222 or 911) or one of our two peer crisis intervention programs: OASIS (257-4945) or HAVEN (257-4930).
A Note About Confidentiality
There have been occasions when faculty/staff have referred a student to the PCC and wanted some type of follow-up contact from the PCC 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 PCC 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.