Assessment and Care Team (ACT)

Tips for Recognizing Students in Distress

The “D” scale is a way to measure and assess mental health related risks. 

Distress- A student in distress is characterized by the following traits:

• Emotionally troubled (e.g. depressed, agitated, unstable).
• Individuals impacted by actual/perceived situation stressors and traumatic events.

You may observe these behaviors: 

• Changes in academic performances in the classroom 
• Scores for examinations significantly drop
• Changes in pattern of interaction
• Changes in physical appearance
• Problems concentrating, remembering things or making decisions

Disturbance- The student has increasingly disruptive behaviors. You may observe these behaviors: 

• Repeating requests for special consideration 
• New or regularly occurring behavior, which pushes the limit and may interfere with class management or be disruptive to other students or college employers 
• Unusual or exaggerated emotional responses (ex: venting, screaming, swearing)
• Persistent sadness or unexplained crying
• High levels of irritability or inappropriate excitement
• Any substance misuse and abuse

Dysregulation- The student is deficient in skills that regulate emotion, cognition, self, behavior, and relationships. You may observe these behaviors: 

• Statements related to death, dying or feelings of hopelessness
• Threats of harming self or others
• Behavior that is highly disturbed
• Outbursts of anger
• Inability to communicate easily
• Irrational conversation or speech that seems disconnected
• Loss of contact with reality; such as seeing or hearing things that are not there, beliefs or actions at odds with reality
• Suspiciousness, irrational feelings or persecution
• Intimidation through verbal or nonverbal threatening behavior
• Destructive, harmful or threatening behaviors/attitudes towards others

Warning Signs of Suicidal Behavior Expression to kill self or wishing to be dead Presence of a plan to harm self Means are available to harm self High stress due to academic difficulty, grief, illness Depressive symptoms present (e.g. severe hopelessness, loss of interest, changes in hygiene)