Referring a distressed student to the Counseling Center
The college years can be stressful for many. Most students cope adequately with stresses, but increasing numbers find that stress becomes unmanageable and interferes with learning. Some signs and symptoms of student distress are procrastination and poorly prepared work, infrequent class attendance, lack of energy, falling asleep in class, marked changes in personal hygiene, impaired speech or garbled and disjointed thoughts, threats to harm oneself or others, and a high level of irritability.
Guidelines for interaction include talking to the student in private, specifically stating your reasons for concern, listening carefully, avoiding criticizing or sounding judgmental, and discussing with the student a referral to the counseling center. If the student resists referral and you remain uncomfortable with the situation, contact Cook Counseling Center at 231-6557 to discuss your concern. Sometimes it can be helpful to accompany the student to Cook Counseling Center. If an emergency exists before 8:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m. weekdays, or on a weekend, call Cook Counseling Center to access the answering service at 231-6557.
Cook Counseling Center's Online Screening Module
Cook Counseling Center and Screening for Mental Health, Inc. offer free and anonymous online screening for depression, alcohol use, eating disorders, and anxiety. The online screenings are informational, not diagnostic, and treatment recommendations are not provided. Online screening is made available so that Virginia Tech students may find out whether consultation with a Cook Counseling Center counselor may be helpful.