Managing Stress and Assisting Others for Academic Advisors Presented by University Counseling Services Virginia Commonwealth University Lyndon J. Aguiar, Ph.D.

Challenges Facing Students What are challenges? What are challenges? How do you see your role? How do you see your role? What do you think are the top mental health concerns at VCU? What do you think are the top mental health concerns at VCU?

Top Concerns at UCS Anxiety Anxiety Relational Relational Depression Depression Substance use Substance use Adjustment Adjustment Eating and body image Eating and body image Attention and learning Attention and learning

Research Levels of stress in medical students is higher than that seen in the general population Levels of stress in medical students is higher than that seen in the general population Sources of stress are not always evident Sources of stress are not always evident o “Feeling useless” was most commonly endorsed source of stress in one study

Identifying stress Students may not specifically say “I am stressed” Students may not specifically say “I am stressed” Symptoms include: Symptoms include: Falling behind on course work Falling behind on course work Insomnia/hypersomnolence Insomnia/hypersomnolence Feeling of tension in shoulders, arms, or face Feeling of tension in shoulders, arms, or face Irritability Irritability Difficulty concentrating Difficulty concentrating Withdrawal Withdrawal

Emotions CRYING student – “not always an accurate barometer of the degree of someone’s distress” CRYING student – “not always an accurate barometer of the degree of someone’s distress” ANGRY student – remain calm, explain your role, avoid personalizing the anger ANGRY student – remain calm, explain your role, avoid personalizing the anger If you believe the student is in danger of harming self or others, contact your dean, UCS (804) , as well as VCU Police (804) If you believe the student is in danger of harming self or others, contact your dean, UCS (804) , as well as VCU Police (804)

Myths and Realities about Mental Health Myth - Confronting a person about suicide will only make them angry and increase the risk of suicide. Myth - Confronting a person about suicide will only make them angry and increase the risk of suicide. Fact - Asking someone directly about suicidal or homicidal intent lowers anxiety, opens up communication and lowers the risk of an impulsive act. Fact - Asking someone directly about suicidal or homicidal intent lowers anxiety, opens up communication and lowers the risk of an impulsive act. Myth - Only experts can prevent suicide. Myth - Only experts can prevent suicide. Fact - Suicide prevention is everybody’s business, and anyone can help prevent the tragedy of suicide. Fact - Suicide prevention is everybody’s business, and anyone can help prevent the tragedy of suicide.

Myths and Realities about Mental Health (continued) Myth - Suicidal people keep their plans to themselves. Myth - Suicidal people keep their plans to themselves. Fact - Most suicidal people communicate their intent sometime during the week preceding their attempt. Fact - Most suicidal people communicate their intent sometime during the week preceding their attempt. Myth - Those who talk about suicide don’t do it. Myth - Those who talk about suicide don’t do it. Fact - People who talk about suicide may try, or even complete, an act of self-destruction. Fact - People who talk about suicide may try, or even complete, an act of self-destruction. Adapted from QPR Training

How to Help a Student? When a student approaches you: Express concern and ask questions Express concern and ask questions Show empathy Show empathy Listen intently to direct and indirect verbal cues, and be aware of non-verbals Listen intently to direct and indirect verbal cues, and be aware of non-verbals Consider multicultural factors Consider multicultural factors Focus on observations Focus on observations Avoid taking the role of surrogate counselor Avoid taking the role of surrogate counselor Ask student about his/her experience with counseling and provide the student with information Ask student about his/her experience with counseling and provide the student with information

How to Help a Student? When a student does NOT approach you: Approach the student after taking into consideration safety factors Approach the student after taking into consideration safety factors Consider timing and location Consider timing and location Be direct, but not punitive Be direct, but not punitive Express concern, ask questions, allow the student to speak freely, listen intently Express concern, ask questions, allow the student to speak freely, listen intently

How to Refer Students to UCS? Explain limitations of your role Explain limitations of your role Emphasize confidentiality and impartiality of counseling Emphasize confidentiality and impartiality of counseling Provide information about location of UCS and how to make an appointment – walk student over if necessary Provide information about location of UCS and how to make an appointment – walk student over if necessary Mention how other students may have benefited from counseling Mention how other students may have benefited from counseling Follow-up with student Follow-up with student

Reducing Stress Deep breathing Deep breathing Body scan Body scan Progressive muscle relation Progressive muscle relation Guided imagery Guided imagery Mindfulness training Mindfulness training

Conclusion Stress is a genuine concern when working with VCU students, especially when transitioning to a new environment Stress is a genuine concern when working with VCU students, especially when transitioning to a new environment There are ways to recognize excessive stress and suicidality in students There are ways to recognize excessive stress and suicidality in students Many techniques can be helpful in reducing stress Many techniques can be helpful in reducing stress

UCS Website – see our new Self-Help Page

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Where are the offices? On Monroe Park Campus  Student Commons 907 Floyd Ave., Rm. 238  On MCV Campus: Grant House 1008 E. Clay Street, B011