When Your Student is in Distress
Partnering for Success: Your Guide to Helping your Student
College offers new experiences and challenges. This can be exciting, yet it can also be stressful and affect students in many ways. Many students are also faced with doing things for the first time like:
- living away from home
- roommate issues
- time management
- relationship struggles/break ups
- family difficulties or changes
- financial problems
- academic challenges
They try to cope with these issues with limited life experience and coping skills. Students dealing with personal concerns or problems tend to show signs that they are struggling. When symptoms of distress last over several weeks, they can interfere with a student’s responsibilities and relationships.
Parents and loved ones are an integral support to their student. They are often the first to witness early signs of distress. The Counseling Center is here to help your student succeed. We are also available to consult when family members are concerned about a student.
The Counseling Center is here to help your student succeed.
The Counseling Center is a FREE and confidential service for UW Oshkosh students.
Signs of Distress to look for:
Academic/Work signs:
- Deterioration in quality of work
- Missing assignments or appointments
- Not attending classes
Physical or Emotional Signs:
- Tearfulness, sadness, anxiety
- Trouble eating or sleeping
- Withdrawing from friends and/or social activities
- Loss of interest in hobbies, work, school
- Feelings of emptiness
- Increased use of alcohol/drugs
- Anger, irritability
- Physical ailments: headaches, nausea, abdominal pain
- Emails or phone conversations that have themes of hopelessness, social isolation, rage or despair.
Please consult with the Counseling Center (920) 424-2061 or another professional in the community.
Get help immediately if you notice:
- Acting out of control, confused
- Talking openly about wanting to die
- Taking unnecessary or life threatening risks
Express Your Concerns
It can be difficult to see your loved one in distress, but talking to your student shows that you care even if your student has difficulty accepting your concern.
Here’s how you can help:
- Be honest and express your concerns. Talk about the changes you have seen in them. Listen and offer emotional support, understanding and patience
- Convey the message that the student’s distress is real, common and treatable
- Offer to help them get assistance.
- Maintain regular contact
- Help them contact the Counseling Center or a helping professional in your community.
- Consult with the Counseling Center (920) 424-2061
In an emergency
If your student needs help or is feeling unsafe, please contact one of the following:
Please stay with the student until help is arranged.
- Call 911 or University Police (920) 424-1212
- UW Oshkosh Counseling Center (920) 424-2061
Open 8am-4:30 pm Mon-Fri
Other helpful phone numbers:
Health Concerns
UW Oshkosh Student Health Center
(920) 424-2424
Living/Residential Concerns:
UW Oshkosh Residence Life
(920) 424-3212
24 hour crisis assistance:
- Winnebago County Crisis Hotline (920) 233-7707
Identify yourself as a parent of a UW Oshkosh student - National Hotline 1-(800) 273- TALK