Emergency Referrals
HOW TO MAKE A REFERRAL
Presenting yourself as knowledgeable about campus resources can ease a student’s discomfort about seeking help.
Let the student know you are concerned about them and their well-being. Assist the student in understanding that a
referral is not a reflection of them.
EMERGENCY REFERRALS
Immediate and decisive intervention is needed when a student’s behavior poses a threat to self or others, including:
- Suicidal gestures, intentions, or attempts
- Other behavior posing a threat to the student (e.g., hallucinations, active drug abuse)
- Threats or aggression directed toward others (e.g., yelling, verbally aggressive comments, invading personal space, or physical attacks)
- Demonstrated inability to care for oneself
EMOTIONAL CRISIS
How to proceed if a student has communicated to you that he or she is in a crisis state emotionally and/or thinking of
doing harm to him/herself or to another person:
- If you are with the student, DO NOT leave the student alone or let him or her leave.
- Contact the Counseling & Wellness Center (during business hours) or campus security (after hours or over weekends) and clearly state that you need assistance with a MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCY. A counselor or security staff member will respond directly to you.
- You may also walk the student to the Counseling & Wellness Center. Counselors and Public Safety Officers are trained to find a professional who will assist immediately.
Faculty members should follow these procedures even if the student’s behaviors are ambiguous.
For matters that arise when the Wellness Center is closed, you may contact the Acting Dean of Student Affairs at
203-285-2210.
For virtual support, please refer to the Virtual Resource Guide.
Non-Emergency Referrals
A decision to refer a student for counseling is based on your observations of the student’s level of emotional distress.
Select the option (below) that you are most comfortable with and/or the option which best suits the student’s situation.
- Suggest the student call 203-285-2480 to schedule a personal counseling appointment with the Counseling & Wellness Center or invite student to make an appointment by emailing GW-Wellness@gwcc.commnet.edu.
- Volunteer to call the Counseling & Wellness Center while student is with you to ensure contact.
- Offer to walk the student over to the Counseling & Wellness Center to make an appointment.
For matters that arise when the Counseling & Wellness Center is closed, you may contact the National Suicide Crisis Line at 988. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States. You can also contact 211, Connecticut's comprehensive phone-based service that provides information, referrals to community services, and crisis intervention. Both crisis lines are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
