Red Folder
Guidance for faculty, staff, community leaders, and families supporting student well-being at Stanford.
Change is challenging even when we choose it, and we all need support as we move through any kind of change. We also need to take steps to support our personal well-being beyond our intellectual lives and accomplishments. Because we are recovering from the collective trauma caused by COVID-19 we require warmth, understanding, and patience. Students want to know that you care about them and, importantly, what kind of support they can expect from you. They want to know that you, too, are an imperfect human who experiences failure, setbacks, and disappointment. Mental health and well-being are top of mind now more than ever.
What Challenges Are Students Experiencing Right Now?
Loneliness and minimal social support. Entering an unpredictable period of transition. Recovering from collective trauma.
How Do I Let Students Know That I Care About Them, and That They Can Talk to Me?
Tell them right from the start.
How Can I Be Responsive to Students' Needs?
Make space for well-being. Facilitate connection.
Signs of Distress
Many times you will not see any obvious signs of distress because we tend to keep our vulnerabilities to ourselves until we know we can trust one another. Check in with and get to know students whenever you can to help build that trust. Try to create an ongoing sense of welcome and belonging. Ultimately, students want to know you care about them. Sometimes you will be able to sense that a student is struggling.
Below are a few ways that signs of distress may show up.
How to Respond When You’re Concerned About a Student’s Well-Being
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Say what you see |
Say what you've noticed, and avoid making any judgments or assumptions. Sometimes you won’t see any overt signs of distress, and yet you’ll still be aware of many things happening in the world that are causing distress in students’ lives. |
"Hi _____, I just wanted to check in. I've noticed _____, and wanted to see if you want to talk about it.” |
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Show you care |
Showing you care about a student's well-being can have a positive impact on their mental well-being, and increase the likelihood they seek help if needed. Build trust. Ask what they need. The kind of support a student needs will change based on the context, and the only way to know what kind of support they need is to ask. |
"I care about your well-being, so I just wanted to check in to see how you're doing. I want to know how I can be the most helpful for you." |
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Hear them out |
Be there to listen. Listen patiently as you try to understand where they're coming from, and take time to affirm their emotional experience. Your full presence in itself can be healing. Your role is to be a warm, supportive presence for this student who is struggling. You’re not there to fix anything or give unsolicited advice. Acknowledge difficult emotions, and instill hope that, with help, things can get better. |
“I’m sorry, that seems like a such a hard situation to be in, what has that been like for you?” |
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Know your role |
Safety first. Do not hesitate to call Public Safety (911) for help. Your safety, and that of our students and community, is our top priority. Consult. Share your concern with the Dean of Students Office, or call the Resident Director on-call, GLO Dean on-call, or CAPS for further consultation whenever you need. These resources can give you advice, or help take over a situation that has escalated and requires mobilization of many resources. |
“I'm sorry you're going through this, and honored that you've been vulnerable with me....” “Your feelings and experiences are real, and things can get better….I want to help.” |
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Connect to help |
Help them connect to resources. Students in distress may need help connecting with a resource. Showing them how to access a resource increases the likelihood that they actually do. Student of Concern Form: To submit a non-urgent Student of Concern form to the Dean of Students Office, please visit: goto.stanford.edu/DOS-SOC-refer
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“Thank you for being so open with me. I want to stay connected as you move through this challenge, and I also want to make sure that you’re getting the kind of help you need. I really think you may find ______ to be a very helpful and comforting resource. Their whole job is to support students through these very challenges. “Can I help you connect with ______?” |
Mental Health and Well-Being Resources
Visit the new Mental Health Resources at Stanford website for help navigating the many mental health and well-being resources at Stanford.
Resources
Stanford Resources
(undergraduate and graduate students)
- Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offers individual consults, skills workshops, process groups, seminars, psychiatry services, community referral resources, and crisis intervention. Available for all students 24/7, contact CAPS at 650.723.3785. CR
- Confidential Support Team (CST) offers support to Stanford students seeking information or help with distress related to sexual assault and relationship violence. Contact CST (Vaden.stanford.edu/cst) at 650.736.6933 or 24/7 (for urgent concerns) at 650.725.9955. CR
- Vaden Medical Services is the first stop for all student medical care. Available for all students 24/7 at 650.498.2336 CR
- Department of Public Safety (DPS) endeavors to be a consultative resource for all members of the community and can be reached 24/7 at 650.329.2413.
- Dean of Students Contact at deanofstudents@stanford.edu or 650.723.2733 to access any of the following resources for non-urgent matters:
Postdoc Resources
- Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA) is the support center for all aspects of personal and professional development and life at Stanford for postdoc trainees. Contact at 650.725.5075.
- Faculty Staff Help Center provides assistance for faculty, staff and postdocs. Contact at 650.723.4577 or helpcenter@lists.stanford.edu. CR
- Guidance Resources Program for Postdocs offers 24/7 support, information, and resources for all of life’s challenges. Contact at 855.666.0519 or guidanceresources.com. CR
Sexual, Relationship, and Gender-Based Violence
- Confidential Support Team (CST) offers support to Stanford students impacted by sexual assault and relationship violence. Contact at 650.725.9955 or vaden.stanford.edu/cst CR
- YWCA @ Stanford Contact at 800.572.2782 or yourywca.stanford.edu CR
- SHARE Title IX Office Contact at 650.497.4955 or titleix@stanford.edu
Off-Campus 24/7 Crisis Resources
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline offers 24/7 free and confidential support for people in distress. Call 988 24/7 for support. CR
- Crisis text hotline is here for any crisis. A live, trained Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds, all from our secure online platform. Text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the United States, anytime.
- The Trevor Project provides crisis support services to LGBTQ young people. To reach a trained counselor at any time, call 1.866.488.7386 or text 678-678.
- BlackLine provides a space for peer support, counseling, witnessing and affirming the lived experiences to folxs who are most impacted by systematic oppression with an LGBTQ+ Black Femme Lens. BlackLine® prioritizes BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color). Call or text 800.604.5841 for support.
- Trans Line Hotline is a peer support phone service run by trans people for our trans and questioning peers. Call us if you need someone trans to talk to, even if you’re not in crisis or if you’re not sure you’re trans. Call 877.565.8860 for support.
Privacy and Information Sharing
Version 5 — August 2022 — Say/Show/Hear/Know/Connect” content adapted with permission from Jack.org’s Be There resources.