Distressed and Distressing Students

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Distressed and Distressing Students

• Student Trends
• Legal Implications
• Best Practices

Annie Stevens, University of Vermont Nancy
Tribbensee, Arizona State University Todd
Weinman, University of Vermont
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Critical Context Why Worry?

• STUDENT Assistance
• COMMUNITY Impact
• Distribution of Resources
• Maintaining Positive Learning Environment
• Safety Issues
• INSTITUTIONAL Liability

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National Trends references are available on
final slide

• Increase in service demand
• Estimated 17-22 increase in the demand on
  counseling centers
• Increase in number of college students with
  significant mental health pathology
• 82 of counseling centers report increase in
  number of students with serious to severe
  pathology
• Increase in high-risk, service-intensive student
  issues
• 59 report increase in violent threats
• 52 . psychiatric hospitalizations
• 39 . illicit drug use (other than
  alcohol)
• 44 . alcohol abuse/dependence
• 67 . Self injury (cutting etc.)
• 36 . eating disorders
• Increase in alcohol-related problems on campus
• 44 of students are binge drinkers
• 1,400 alcohol-related student deaths per year

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National Trends cont.

• Factors contributing to increased mental health
  service demand
• pre-arrival histories
• high cost and diminished service of off-campus
  care high expectations for on-campus care
• overall lessening of social stigma and improved
  identification
• high-profile media stories
• greater adjustment stresses
• younger exposure to decisions about sex, alcohol,
  and drugs
• increased parental involvement
• increased stress associated with the 24/7 pace of
  undergraduate life

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Definitions

• Disruptive Students
• Students whose behavior makes teaching and
  learning difficult for others in the class

• Distressed students
• Students who are experiencing emotional and/or
  psychological problems that are interfering with
  their ability to learn

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Disruptive Behavior

• Takes many forms, varying in severity

Being late, reading the paper, sleeping
Making noise, repeatedly interrupting
Physical violence
Passing notes, answering cell phone
Personal insults, harassment
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Disruptive Behavior

• Violations of syllabus expectations/rules
• Habitual interference with classroom environment
• Persistent and unreasonable demands for time and
  attention
• Intimidating or harassing another person through
  words and/or actions
• Threats of physical assault

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Disruptive Behavior What it Isnt!

• Cultural differences
• Disagreements or differences of opinion
• Situational frustration
• Dealing with stress and emotion
• Needing extra time or attention for a special
  reason

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Legal Implications

• Negligence
• Duty
• Breach
• Damage
• Causation
• Student Privacy
• FERPA
• Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of
  California (1976)
• Ewing v. Northridge Hospital Medical Center
  (2004)
• Academic Implications
• 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
• Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

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Best PracticesSupporting Individual Students

• Responding to the Students Immediate Needs
• Protocols established
• Setting limits and boundaries, clear expectations
• Behavior Contracts
• Follow-up and Communication
• Teamwork among campus professionals
• Residential Life, Counseling Center, Police
  Services, Legal Counsel, AOD Professionals,
  Academic Deans, Risk Management, etc.
• Identify Campus or Local Resources
• Followup with those affected (other students,
  faculty, staff)
• Contacting/Involving Parents
• Philosophy
• Practice

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Best PracticesAdministrative Strategies

• Counseling Services
• Academic Communication
• Behavioral observations rather than psychological
  characterizations
• Articulating interpersonal skill requirements for
  the program in all admissions information and
  throughout the program
• Clear, Updated Protocols
• Bias Incident, AOD Detox, Death, Suicide Attempt,
  Sexual Assault
• Collaborative Coordination Teams
• Parent Contact (when, who, why)
• University Judicial Process -Consistency
• State and Federal Laws

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References

• Vivian Boyd, International Association of
  Counseling Services, as cited in Leslie Berger,
  The therapy generation. New York Times,
  January 13, 2002.
• Robert Gallagher, National Survey of Counseling
  Center Directors, University of Pittsburgh
  2001-2003.
• National Association of Student Personnel
  Administrators study, as cited in Study shows
  incidents involving students on the rise at
  college campuses. Disability Compliance for
  Higher Education Newsletter, 7(9), April 2002.
• A Call to Action Changing the Culture of
  Drinking at U.S. Colleges. Report of the Task
  Force on College Drinking, National Institute on
  Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, April 2001.

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Distressed and Distressing Students

• Student Trends
• Legal Implications
• Best Practices

Annie Stevens, University of Vermont Nancy
Tribbensee, Arizona State University Todd
Weinman, University of Vermont