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College Students in Distress

A Resource Guide for Faculty, Staff, and Campus Community

• By Bruce S. Sharkin

• Price: $19.95
• Binding: Paperback (also available in Hardback)
• Pages: 158
• Published by: Routledge
• Publication Date: 22nd June 2006
• ISBN: 978-0-7890-2525-8

About the Book

Be prepared to deal with campus situations that involve students in emotional crisis

College Students in Distress provides college personnel with invaluable information on how to identify and refer emotionally troubled students for professional counseling. Dr. Bruce S. Sharkin, a staff psychologist at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania, addresses general warning signs of student distress, symptoms of specific psychological problems such as anxiety and depression, guidelines for interventions, and methods of making a referral for counseling. The book also examines current mental health issues for college students and provides an overview of common campus policies and procedures, such as psychological emergencies, withdrawal and readmission, and mandatory counseling.

College Students in Distress provides the answers you need to manage difficult—and potentially dangerous—situations on campus. Case examples based on real-life experiences give you a clear sense of what can happen when responding to students in emotional distress, particularly when dealing with specific issues and student populations, and will help in your efforts to review and/or revise the current practices of your school. This unique book is essential as a resource and referral guide that raises awareness of this growing national problem without being limited to the characteristics of a particular college or university.

Topics examined in College Students in Distress include:

• the impact of mental health problems on academics
  
• the roles and functions of college counseling services
  
• indicators of emotional disturbance
  
• suicidal behavior
  
• self-inflicted harm
  
• eating disorders
  
• guidelines for intervention
  
• accommodations for students with psychological disabilities
  
• and much more

College Students in Distress is a must-read for faculty and staff members, particularly those working in residential life, student health, and public safety, and for administrative offices within student services and student affairs.

Table of Contents

• Preface
  
• Acknowledgments
  
• Chapter 1. Overview of Current Issues in College Student Mental Health
  
• Are Today’s Students More Emotionally Troubled?
  
• Impact of Mental Health Problems on Academic Functioning and Campus Life
  
• Who Is Responsible for Student Mental Health?
  
• The Roles and Functions of College Counseling Services
  
• About This Resource Guide
  
• Chapter 2. General Warning Signs
  
• Student Distress: Developmental or More Serious in Nature?
  
• Potential Indicators of Emotional Disturbance
  
• Summary
  
• Chapter 3. Recognizing Specific Problems
  
• Anxiety
  
• Depression
  
• Suicidal Behavior
  
• Deliberate Self-Inflicted Harm
  
• Substance Abuse
  
• Eating Disorders
  
• Psychotic Behavior
  
• Summary
  
• Chapter 4. Approaching a Student with Your Concerns
  
• General Guidelines for Intervention
  
• Specific Scenarios
  
• Summary
  
• Chapter 5. The Referral process
  
• Ways to Facilitate a Referral to Counseling
  
• When There Is a Sense of Urgency
  
• Following Up
  
• Summary
  
• Chapter 6. Specific Issues and Populations to Consider
  
• How Much Responsibility to Assume
  
• Awareness of Dual-Role and Boundary Complications
  
• Dealing with Parents of Distressed Students
  
• Dealing with Peers of Distressed Students
  
• Students of Color
  
• International Students
  
• Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Students
  
• Student-Athletes
  
• Graduate Students
  
• Summary
  
• Chapter 7. Campus Policies and Procedures Related to Student Mental Health
  
• Accommodations for Students with Psychological Disabilities
  
• Psychological Crises and Emergencies
  
• Withdrawal and Readmission
  
• Mandatory Counseling
  
• Limitations of Campus Counseling
  
• Conclusion
  
• References
  
• Index