Resources for Faculty and Staff
How to Assist a Student in Distress
Red Light! Call 911 or UNF Police Department at 904-620-2800!
Urgent situation, safety is an immediate concern, individual references imminent threat of harm to self or others.
Yellow Light! Submit an SOS Referral!
No immediate threat of harm, but significant distress is exhibited. Attempts have been made to educate or change behavior but it is still present, or you don't feel comfortable addressing the behavior.
Green Light! You Got This!
Student is in distress or exhibiting disruptive behavior, but a discussion about expectations and/or referrals to campus resources can take place. You can still submit a SOS referral to let us know, and feel free to call our office for strategies.
Supporting a Student in a Non-Emergency Situation
Faculty, instructors, and staff are often the first to recognize when a student is exhibiting concerning behaviors and could benefit from additional support or assistance. Learn to identify signs of distress, and use the following to guide your next steps after recognizing signs:
- Try to reach out directly by email or phone before making an SOS referral.
- Listen to the student and acknowledge the behaviors you have seen.
- Explain campus resources available to them.
- If the student is not receptive or you feel the student may benefit from additional support, submit an SOS referral documenting what you have done and noticed.
Additional Questions to Consider
The following questions and their respective answers should be viewed as guidelines when deciding to submit a SOS referral. If you have additional questions, please also view the SOS Program FAQ page (linked).
If you answer “YES” to any of these questions, we encourage you to submit a SOS referral.
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Are you concerned the student may harm themselves or someone else?
If there is immediate concern of self-harm or harm to others, call the UNF Police Department immediately at (904) 620 – 2800. After notifying UPD, please submit an SOS referral so the Dean of Students Office may provide additional support and follow-up measures. -
Are you concerned about the well-being of the student?
This can be in reference to any of the behaviors listed in the Defining Concerning Behaviors page. Some behaviors you may notice include irregular class attendance, a change in physical appearance, or suspected substance use. -
Have you noticed a sudden change in the student’s everyday behavior?
This can include a difference in the student’s academic performance, seeming overly upset or angry, or presenting their feelings in a more confrontational manner. -
Has the student disclosed to you they are experiencing multiple levels of distress?
While some students may not be open to explaining what they are going through, their distress can manifest in behaviors listed in Defining Concerning Behaviors. Some signs to be ware of include a change in overall hygiene or appearance, excessive absences, or lack of motivation seen through their academic work. -
Has the student’s communication style become unusual or alarming?
For faculty and staff, this can be seen through a student’s communications via email, Canvas, or their class assignments. For friends and peers, ask yourself if their text messages might have odd language or if they are using social media to make threatening or concerning statements. Lack of response to all forms of communication is behavior to note in the SOS referral. -
Is the student’s behavior causing disruption on-campus or in their living environment?
This can include angry outbursts, violence towards fellow classmates or roommates, or behavior a reasonable person may view as an interruption to regular classroom or campus activities. -
Is the student not meeting basic personal needs?
Personal needs include hygiene, the ability to have safe housing, and access to food, among other personal healthcare needs.