Crisis Intervention

Intervene early to provide support and behavioral response to students displaying distressed, disruptive or disturbed behaviors. Disruptive behavior can occur in classrooms, online, via e-mail in writings or anywhere on the campus. Disruptive behavior may not always be a danger to other students. Disruptive behaviors may also include missing class frequently, sleeping in class, verbal impairment, and so on. In the cases that a danger is presented, please immediately contact campus police for assistance.

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Students that exhibit the following behaviors may need assistance, and should be reported to the crisis team for assistance:

• Sleeping in class more than 2-3 times
• Absence from class
• Acting out in class
• Poor preparation or inconsistent work product in class
• Excessive excuses/requests for exception to class work requirements
• Overly aggressive behavior toward others
• Limited ability for redirection or limit setting
• Impairment of thought, verbalization, or writings
• Poor Decision making capacity
• Strange or inappropriate behavior in the setting
• Overreaction to circumstances
• Violence, exhibited acting out, writings, verbalizations, endorsement of violence as seen in the media
• Delusional expressions, appearance of hallucinations, paranoid thoughts, related signs of psychosis
• Lack of expression, concern, commitment and inability to care

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After reporting and evaluation, crisis team members determine the level of distress from three categories. Classification levels include:

1. Distressed students:
   • Students who are emotionally troubled
   • Individuals impacted by situational stressors and/or a traumatic event
   • Possibility of some psychiatric symptom
2. Disturbed Students:
   • Behaviorally disruptive, unusual or acting bizarrely
   • Show indications of a lack of touch with reality
   • Destructive, apparently harmful to others
   • Possibly substance abusing
   • Showing a complete lack of social norms in their behaviors
   • Erratic behavior
3. Severely Disturbed Students:
   • Suicidal
   • Para-suicidal (self-injurious, eating disordered)
   • Individuals engaging in risk-taking behaviors (e g, substance abusing)
   • Hostile, aggressive, relationally abusive
   • Individuals deficient in skills that regulate emotion, cognition, self, behavior and relationships

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Assessment of risk is completed using the CUBIT Risk Rubric. Recommendations for intervention are guided by this rubric.

1. Distress: Confront and suggest resources
2. Disturbed: Confront and Refer
3. Severe Disturbance: Refer or intervene

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Suicidality (as evidenced by written or verbal communication)

1. Direct statements indicating perceived futility of life.
2. Written "suicide" or extremely depressive poetry, etc.
3. Crying and/or expressions of anguish with or without report of precipitating event (death, loss, and trauma).
4. Statements or actions in which student gives away personal possessions with/without comments indicating imminent death.
5. Report by student that another student has confessed suicidal intent or ideation.

Course of Action: Course of Action: If the student is willing to go talk with one of the counselors at Health Services, call Health Services to escort the student. If the student is unwilling to see a counselor, then please call Campus Police. Note: All students expressing suicidal thoughts must have psychiatric/medical intervention both for their safety and to avoid legal liability of faculty and staff.

Psychological Decompensation (with or without psychosis)

1. Disorientation, confusion, inappropriate behavior or statements.
2. Inappropriate or labile mood indications such as laughter, hostility, crying suspicion, or mania without a precipitating stimulus.
3. Mumbling, incoherent speech or nonsensical babbling.
4. Lack of awareness of surroundings.
5. Violence toward individuals, property or objects.

Course of Action: Call Campus Police to make the appropriate counseling/hospitalization determinations. If the student prefers to see a counselor at Health Services, call Health Services to escort the student.

Substance Overdose (Student may or may not exhibit the following)

1. Slurred speech
2. Drowsiness
3. Dilated or constricted pupils
4. Disorientation
5. Twitching or extreme nervousness
6. Unconsciousness
7. Slow breathing or pulse

Course of Action: Call 911 Campus Police immediately and notify Health Services. If a student is threatening or uncooperative, call Campus Police for assistance. Note: A student who has ingested or inhaled a lethal substance may be awake and talking coherently; however, they may become a medical emergency very quickly. Do not leave them alone at any time. They require swift medical intervention.

Substance Intoxication (Student may or may not manifest the following)

1. Slurred speech
2. Ebullient or expansive mood
3. Belligerence or destructive hostility
4. Disorientation or drowsiness
5. Odor of alcohol on breath
6. Glassy eyes, slow responses to questions
7. Nervousness, irritability
8. Irrational speech or behavior

Course of Action: Call Campus Police for assistance.

Contact Phone Numbers

Health Services: (951) 571-6103

Campus Police: (951) 222-8171 or 911

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1. Faculty, staff or students may report distressed, disruptive or dangerous behavior to any team member.
2. The team member will complete an incident report in preparation for the following
   BIRT meeting.
3. The committee will decide from time to time who in the committee will be a central person to report by phone to other members in those cases deemed emergent Telephone triage will be noted at the bottom of the BIRT incident intake report form which is limited to the committee's use.
4. If deemed an emergency by the team member, the team member will notify the Campus police (911 or 8171), then the Vice President of Student Services or his designee as soon as possible.
5. The reporting person may remain anonymous.
6. If an employee is reporting a difficult situation with another employee, the referring party should be told to contact Human Resources Director.
7. The report will be discussed among members of the team at the next scheduled meeting, with a recommendation for action to the faculty member within one week of the BIRT meeting.
8. Recommendations may or may not include consultation with the Dean, Student Services for disciplinary action or the Vice President Student Services.

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College can be an exciting time, and it can sometimes be overwhelming and stressful. Depression, anxiety, substance use, and eating disorders are common mental health issues experienced by students. Counseling and support services can help students identify and manage personal concerns, learn more about themselves, and make positive life changes. Talking about issues and concerns in a safe and confidential environment can enable students to become more successful in college and life.Back to Top