Signs of distress can be different for different people. For example, when you’re stressed, do you over or under eat? Because signs of distress can be different for everyone, for people we know well a change or shift in their behaviour may indicate that something is going on for that person. Here are some possible signs of distress:
Absences or missed appointments
Non engagement/irritability/disruptive in group setting
Non-responsive to communications (Email, D2L)
Content of communications allude to mental health concerns, hopelessness
Communications are accusatory, manipulative, sexually inappropriate, or threatening
Submissions are odd/dark in tone
You may be the first person to notice that a student is in distress. Some faculty and instructors may feel uncertain about how to support a student experiencing test anxiety, especially if the student is in a heightened state of distress. It is okay to feel unsure about how to respond. You do not need to have all the answers and it is not your job to be a mental health professional. However, recognizing signs of distress and responding with care and concern is something all campus members can do.
It’s important to be mindful of safety as a primary concern and to act within your skills, experience, and role. You may not be responsible for all the stages of the “responding” model. If you notice signs of distress, you may involve another staff person to assist with the response. Remember you can involve relevant campus resources, such as Student Wellness Services and Student Success Centre, as needed for consultation, referral, or additional support. You can contact Student Wellness Services by email: SWSMentalHealth@ucalgary.ca or by phone: (403) 210-9355. For urgent support, you can also contact the Student at Risk team: sar@ucalgary.ca.
If you are concerned about a student, there are several steps you can follow to support the student. In your role, you may support students using all or some of these steps.
Be specific when asking students about behaviour you may have noticed. For example:
I’ve noticed that you have made several requests for extensions, is everything okay?
I’ve noticed (describe behaviour). Have you have been struggling recently?
I am concerned about you and wanted to check-in.
Respond empathically to students who share with you. For example:
I am sorry that you are having a difficult time
That sounds like a really challenging thing to be going through
I want to make sure I understand…
From what I’m hearing, you are feeling X. Is that right?
Express your limits:
Problem-solve together. For example:
What do you need right now?
What supports do you have in your life currently?
Which supports do you think would be the most helpful right now?
Have you connected with Wellness Services about these concerns?
How can I help?
This is where you might also share what you’ve learned about “anxiety as normal” and “anxiety as dangerous” mindsets. You may ask if the student would like to practice with you one of the behavioural strategies described in this module. If a student is in a more emotionally regulated state, you can remind the student:
Some anxiety is just their body getting them ready to take on a challenge.
The student has worked really hard to get to this place in their academic journey, which is evidence that they can do (whatever the task is). How has the student overcome a challenge in the past?
Anxiety is kind of like a bully, trying to push the student around. How might we respond to a bully?
Talk back to the bully to put it in it’s place (e.g., “I’ve got this, I don’t need you pushing me around;” “thanks, but no thanks;”)
Seek help
There are several resources on campus that can support students experiencing test anxiety, including:
Student Wellness Services
Email: SWSMentalHealth@ucalgary.ca
Call: (403)210-9355
Web: https://ucalgary.ca/wellness-services
Student Success Centre
Web: https://ucalgary.ca/student-services/student-success
Student Accessibility Services
Email: access@ucalgary.ca
Call: (403)210-6019
Web: https://www.ucalgary.ca/student-services/access
After hours support
For after-hours mental health support from the Distress Centre:
Call 403-266-4357, available 24/7.
For additional crisis support from Wood’s Homes Community Support Team:
Graduate students – Empower Me
Students in distress
When in doubt about a student in distress, contact any of the listed campus resources to consult:
If there is an indication of imminent harm to self or others:
If there is no indication of imminent harm to self or others but urgent support is needed:
If there is no indication of imminent harm to self or others and urgent support is not needed:
Students may decline your offer of support. This is okay. Consider how you can create a space for reconnection, such as:
“If you change your mind and would like to access supports, you can always connect with the resources we have talked about.”
Sometimes, students may choose not to reply to your communications, whether via email or otherwise.
If there is an urgent concern about a student’s wellbeing, harm to self or others, please contact SAR: sar@ucalgary.ca. SAR is a confidential support system that involves assessment of the situation, outreach, consultation, and the provision/referral to supports as appropriate. SAR also provides incident debrief for members of the campus community.
Click here to download your own Supporting Student’s in Distress Reference Guide.
After this lesson, you will be able to:
Identify signs and symptoms of test anxiety
Determine when students are in heightened distress
Apply five strategies to helping students cope with test anxiety in the classroom
Understand the four steps of the “Responding” model for helping students experiencing test anxiety and/or in distress.
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John Lothes, I. I., Mochrie, K., Wilson, M., & Hakan, R. (2021). The effect of dbt-informed mindfulness skills (what and how skills) and mindfulness-based stress reduction practices on test anxiety in college students: A mixed design study. Current Psychology, 40, 2764-2777. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-019-00207-y
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