Once you have observed that a student may be in distress

You have two options for responding

Your decision about which path to choose may be influenced by:

• Your level of experience
• The nature and severity of the problem
• Your ability to give time to the situation
• A variety of other personal factors

If you have an established relationship or rapport with the student
Speaking directly with her/him may be the best option. Begin the conversation by expressing your concerns about the specific behaviours you have observed.

If you are not comfortable approaching the student
You may prefer to contact your supervisor for advice or support, or you might contact the University’s counseling or community safety staff (or another network resource, if the incident occurs after hours) and ask for advice on how to deal with the situation.

What’s important is that you do something to help the student to get the help that they need.