Concerned for a Student?
If you are concerned that a student is in immediate danger to themselves, safety is the priority. Please contact:
On Campus call Campus Support: 0151-794-2222 or 999
Off-Campus call Emergency Services: 999
If it is a crisis situation and you contact Campus Support out of hours, they will inform Student Services the next working day. Student Services will follow up and offer immediate support to the student.
Presentation of Mental Health Needs
Research has indicated that mental health difficulties are increasing among the general population and within universities, there is a general awareness of ways in which these may affect students' performance. The most common symptom experienced by students is anxiety. Statistics on the incidence vary widely but acute anxiety and panic attacks may be experienced by some students in reaction to different aspects of university life. Less commonly, students may experience depression, bipolar, eating disorders, self-harm, or schizophrenia.
Some students may be affected by these conditions before they arrive at university, and others may develop them during their time at University. These conditions could severely impact students and, if effective remedies are not accessed, may lead to students becoming very unwell and withdrawing from university.
Changes in mood and demeanour can provide important indicators of how a person is feeling. Unusual mood swings or social withdrawal may indicate some degree of emotional distress. It is difficult to define what is 'normal', other than to use an individual's usual behaviour as a point of comparison. Clearly, it is not always possible to make such comparisons when dealing with someone for the first time or with little prior knowledge of him or her. The following list can help to indicate the presence of emotional distress - it is not a diagnostic tool, but rather a collection of signs that might indicate that the person is experiencing some degree of mental health difficulty:
- Erratic or unpredictable behaviour.
- Agitation or overt anxiety.
- Disinhibition
- Social withdrawal/avoidance of social interaction or contact.
- Unexplained or prolonged crying.
- Change or disturbance in eating/sleeping patterns.
- Incoherent speech.
None of these in isolation indicates a severe or enduring mental illness but the presence of a number of these factors might suggest a need for greater concern or investigation.
If you have any concerns about a student please contact Student Services, phone 0151 795 1000 or email advice@liverpool.ac.uk
Case conferences
Case conferences provide a useful forum for the discussion of particular mental health concerns. Such meetings will usually be chaired by Student Services and can include all relevant departments, for example, the student’s academic department, Student Services, Accommodation and Student Health. Case conferences enable all parties to obtain accurate and relevant information about a situation and then decide a course of action. This is particularly useful when mental health distress presents in university residences, which is often the case.
When considering a case conference, it is important to consider such factors as confidentiality, privacy, providing information on a 'need to know basis, whether the individual concerned should be invited, and how decisions are to be communicated.
The case conference is able to consider all factors in context so that academic issues are considered alongside other issues and a response is made in the interests of both a student's personal and academic wellbeing. It is important to remember that University procedures and protocols play an important part in the response the individual receives and must be observed. Student Services will advise and support you throughout this process.
If you do have concerns about a student and would like to discuss these further, please contact Advice and Guidance.