Guide for Faculty, Staff and Administration

Guidelines for Dealing with Students Who Are Emotionally Disturbed:

Massachusetts College of Art + Design is committed to offering an optimal educational opportunity to all its students and the provisions of quality mental health services is a part of that commitment. When a student becomes emotionally disturbed and is brought to the attention of college officials, prompt action is taken. Consideration for the individual student and consideration for the welfare of others in the community are paramount.

Resources for assistance include the Counseling Services, Student Health Services, Residence Hall Staff, and the office of Student Affairs, local hospitals, and mental health agencies. The assistance available makes it possible for emotionally disturbed individuals to receive therapy and/or medication and continue in the college community at the same time. However, when these cannot be achieved simultaneously, the goal is to suggest the resources and require the treatment necessary to help the student become a functioning member of the college community as quickly as possible.

Emotionally disturbed students who have not violated any campus policy are usually brought to the attention of College officials by concerned friends, staff, R.A.’s, faculty, family members, or occasionally by a self –referral. The student’s maladaptive and sometimes bizarre behavior is the focus of the referral along with a commonly expressed concern for the personal welfare of the student by those close to him or her. A usual response of college officials is to summon the student for an interview if the circumstance is serious enough to require an intervention. (Sometimes circumstances may suggest an intervention by going directly to the student.)

The purpose of the interview is to assess the degree of apparent maladjustment, to judge whether the situation constitutes an immediate danger to the student or others, and to determine the most appropriate course of action.

The appropriate administrator may exercise one or all of several alternative procedures.

1. If the student has not violated academic policy and the behavior is neither dangerous nor disruptive, the student is given feed back concerning the idiosyncratic nature of his/her behavior and its impact on others. A referral for counseling is also usually made.
   
2. To make a referral
   Should begin with:
   • Concern: "I’ve been really concerned about you lately"
   • Cite Behavior: "I’ve seen you falling asleep in class"
   • Give Direction: "I’d like you to go to talk to someone in counseling services. They can give you support:
   
3. If the behavior of a student is determined to be disruptive or dangerous to her/himself or others, a referral for a psychological evaluation is made to Counseling services as soon as feasible. Ideally the student is referred or escorted to Counseling Services on a voluntary basis, although the Campus police may be used to transport an unwilling or dangerous student. At Counseling Services, a staff psychotherapist makes a determination concerning the degree of emotional disturbance and advises the official whether the student is able to remain in school or should be considered for an involuntary withdrawal.
   
4. A student may be immediately withdrawn from college if the students’ behavior poses an imminent threat to self, others or property
   
5. Parents of unmarried minor students (under18) may be notified and kept informed of the student’s status. Parents of responsible adults (over 18) may also be notified if the student is incapable of responsible decisions about self care.

Reasons to suggest referral to counseling services:

• Excessive alcohol or drug abuse.
  
• Severe swings of mood from depression to boundless energy, rapid speech, millions of ideas, etc.
  
• A feeling of helplessness and inability to cope with everyday life.
  
• Pathological lying or stealing.
  
• Hearing voices which are not there or believes there is a conspiracy against her/him.
  
• Odd or eccentric behavior in comparison with one's usual life style, or a gradual change in behavior which negates the usual pattern.
  
• Suicidal talk, a gesture or attempt on one's own life.
  
• Prolonged physiological symptoms such as headaches, nausea, numbness that are not physically caused as attested to by a medical professional.
  
• Long, drawn-out periods of crying.
  
• Extreme quietness, withdrawal or shyness.
  
• Continued lack of appetite or sleeping inordinate amount of time.
  
• Waking very early every day (e.g. 3 AM).
  
• Inability to make decisions even about small things.
  
• Extreme nervousness or uncomfortable anxiety.
  
• Bizarre eating habits and/or frequent self-induced vomiting.
  
• Reporting distractibility, inability to concentrate, impatience!
  
• Any self-destructive or life threatening behaviors.
  
• Overly aggressive, rude and/or verbally abusive over minor incidents.

Protocol regarding mental health emergencies:

Procedures and referrals regarding mental health situations involving students, routine or emergency, are handled by and coordinated through Counseling Services.

During college office hours and when classes are in session (Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm), Counseling Services staff may be reached on the 2nd floor of the Kennedy building and at (617) 879-7760

Evenings and weekends, the Director of Counseling Services may be contacted through Public Safety (617-879-7800) if there is a metal health emergency. See appropriate phone numbers at the end of this protocol.

The following situations constitute mental health emergencies:
Protocols for each are outlined.

Suicide Attempt:
When the student has made a serious suicide attempt with the potential of life threatening injury and immediate medical attention is required (e.g. profuse bleeding):

• Medical attention for the student is primary
  
• Contact Public Safety (x7800) immediately, for transport of the student to the hospital for medical attention and/or evaluation.
  
• Call the Health Office (x7760) for advice and to attend to the student while awaiting transport.
  
• Call Counseling Services (x7760) to inform, after attending to the student’s medical needs.
  NOTE: It is strongly advised (for liability reasons, if none other) that the student be seen by a member of the Counseling Services staff following a serious suicide attempt and after the situation has stabilized; ideally, this should occur as soon as possible following the precipitation incident.

Rape:
When the student alleges that she/he has been raped and appears to be in emotional distress:

• Immediate medical care of the student may be primary, particularly if the rape has just occurred, although emotional attention to the student is also very important.
  
• Contact Public safety (x7800) for possible transport to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital (Rape Crisis Unit Services)
  
• Contact Health Services (x7760) for advisement; proceed as instructed by student health services.
  
• Contact Counseling Services (x7760) to inform of the situation.

Suicide Verbalization:
When the student has made as suicide threat and/or comments, verbally or in writing, yet is verbally or visually not in any immediate life threatening situation:

• Attempt to ascertain the level of seriousness and/or intent.
  
• Contact Counseling Services (x7760) with as much information as possible regarding present condition of student, and for advice regarding how to proceed.
  
• Proceed as advised.

Psychotic Behavior:
When the student is exhibiting psychotic behavior (bizarre comments, other manifest loss of contact with reality) yet is not in danger to self or others:

• Ascertaining the ability to function appropriately, including taking care of self, and other related information (e.g. medication) is primary.
  
• Contact Counseling Services (x7760) with as much information as is possible to describe the present condition of the student, and for advice regarding how to proceed.
  
• Proceed as advised.

Additional Procedures:
When a disruptive or dangerous situation has occurred with other persons in the area:

• Physical safety of all persons concerned is primary.
  
• Contact Public Safety (x7800) to give your location and to ask for advice
  
• Public Safety will dispatch at least two officers and will immediately inform the Director of Counseling services, the Director of Health Services, the Chief Student Affairs Officer and /or the Dean of Students.
  
• Clear the area of ALL bystander persons immediately, alone or with the assistance of Security officers.
  
• Public Safety, the Chief Student Affairs Officer or Dean of Students, upon arrival on the scene, will assume control, attempt to gauge the seriousness of the situation and attempt to talk to the disrupting or distressed person.
  
• The person assuming control will contact the Boston Police, if necessary or direct the contact of the police
  
• If hospitalization is indicated the appropriate student development staff member will indicate the hospital for transport and will assume responsibility for contacting and informing the hospital of the situation.
  
• The Chief Student Affairs Officer or Dean of Students will assume responsibility for informing the student’s emergency contact person, if appropriate.
  
• The appropriate Student Development staff and Faculty/Staff person involved will convene those bystanders most directly affected as soon as the disruption has subsided or as soon as possible to assisting relieving the trauma of the situation.
  
• Incident reports are to be written by all concerned and submitted to the Vice President of Student Development.