Addressing Mental Health
Supporting Student Mental Health: A Faculty Guide
Student mental health directly impacts classroom success. KU Faculty and staff play an important role in normalizing help-seeking behavior and connecting students to professional support.
How Faculty Can Help
When you notice a student in distress, take a Recognize, Respond, and Refer approach:
- Start with a Conversation: Before making a formal referral, have a direct, caring conversation with the student. This "middle step" can be a vital bridge to professional help.
- Normalize Help-Seeking: Use your platform to talk about available resources and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.
- Submit a CARE Referral: For students requiring more intensive university intervention, utilize the formal CARE referral system.
To recognize a student in distress, instructors can take the following actions:
- Observe: Hygiene, missing class, changes in behavior, academic performance, activity, written work, falling asleep in class—anything that marks a change in the student.
- Ask: In a private setting, ask the student if everything is going OK. It is OK to say that you notice that they seem to be struggling lately and you are wondering if they are getting the support that they need?
- Refer: Keep the phone numbers handy for referrals and make them when indicated. It’s OK to call with the student in your office, it’s OK to walk a student down to the Psychological Counseling Center if you believe that is warranted.
- Check-in: After you have initiated a conversation, or made a referral, it is important that you check in with the student to see how they are doing. Showing care and concern is not a “one and done” activity. It does not need to be extensive e.g. “Hi, Kevin, you seem to be doing better—I hope things are going OK with you.” There is no need to re-open the case; you just need to show you care. Make eye contact, display care, and show the student that you are concerned about their overall well-being.
Key Campus Resources for Students
The university has recently updated its services to be more accessible and affordable:
CAPS - Counseling and Psychological Services for therapy and psychiatry. Free initial intake; $10 therapy sessions.
Mantra Health - A digital platform for 24/7 "in-the-moment" support and teletherapy. Accessible after a CAPS intake.
Embedded Clinicians - CAPS clinicians located directly within academic and residential units. Available in Green Hall, Daisy Hill, and the Union.
Watkins Health - Comprehensive medical care. Now screens for mental health risk at every visit.