Supporting students in distress - a quick guide for staff

Our guide to supporting students in distress aims to give at-a-glance information when you need it quickly. It helps you identify the approach to take, based on the level of concern and lists all the contact details for the teams you may need to contact.

Guide to supporting students in distress

IT'S OKAY TO ASK

You don’t need to be an expert or deal with concerns on your own; reach out to Wellbeing Advice & Guidance. We’re here to help you support students.

LEVEL 1: SIGNPOST

Applies to the majority of students.

WHO

Students experiencing:

  • Mild emotional distress e.g. anxiety, stress, loneliness
  • Low-level engagement
  • Minor academic struggles

WHO CAN HELP?

  • Wellbeing Advice and Guidance - encourage the student to complete a triage form and they will be contacted within 3 working days
  • Signpost to Health Assured
  • Provide crisis numbers if you have some concerns

FOLLOW UP

  • Document your actions

 

LEVEL 2: REFER 

WHO

Students experiencing:

  • Suicidal thoughts or depression with no intent or plan
  • Increased or persistent emotional distress
  • Sudden changes in behaviour or appearance
  • Unusual ideas
  • Mild alcohol or substance misuse
  • Declining engagement with studies or student life

WHO CAN HELP?

In office hours call or email Wellbeing Advice & Guidance for advice.

Out of office hours email Wellbeing Advice & Guidance - a Wellbeing Practitioner will respond to you next working day.

If you are concerned about delaying support:

  • Book a call back for the student from a Health Assured counsellor (with their consent)
  • Provide crisis numbers

FOLLOW UP

  • Document your actions
  • If you require further information about a student, please contact Wellbeing Advice and Guidance

 

LEVEL 3: EMERGENCY

WHO

Students experiencing:

  • Suicidal intent or plans
  • Actual significant harm/injury to self or a plan to cause harm/injury to self
  • Expressions of threat or risk to others
  • A loss of sense of reality which places them at immediate risk of harm to self/others

These students are hard to assess, very distressed and their behaviour is unmanageable in the current context.

WHO CAN HELP?

Student is on campus

  • Call Campus Support on 2222

They will liaise with Emergency Services, directing them to your location. Campus Support will contact Student Services who will follow up with the student.

Student is off campus

  • Call Emergency Services on 999
  • Stay with/in contact with the student until help arrives unless your safety is compromised
  • Pass on information to the Emergency Services

FOLLOW UP

  • Document your actions
  • Inform Wellbeing Advice & Guidance
  • Look after your own wellbeing – support is available through the Employee Assistance Programme, tel. 0800 358 4858

 

SHARING INFORMATION
  • Where possible, collaborate with the student on next steps and agree who you will contact
  • Only use the student’s ID and initials if emailing and only cc others if relevant
  • Obtain an up-to-date telephone number for students
  • Follow the Trusted Contacts Policy. Only named staff may use trusted contacts without student consent.

 

CONTACTS

ESSENTIAL CONTACTS

Wellbeing Advice & Guidance
Alsop Building
0151 795 1000
advice@liverpool.ac.uk

Campus Support
0151 794 2222

Health Assured 24/7 student helpline
0800 028 3766

CRISIS NUMBERS

Mersey Care 24-hour urgent care line
0800 145 6570

NHS: 111

Samaritans a listening service
Tel: 116123

Papyrus Hopeline UK crisis line
0800 068 41 41 9am-midnight

SHOUT 24/7 crisis text service
TEXT Shout to 85258

Download a copy of the Guide to supporting students in distress (pdf, 126kb)

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