Supporting Students in Crisis

Now more than ever, people (both students and faculty) are experiencing increasing and prolonged stress, trauma, and crisis, and it is important to understand the impact these experiences have on teaching and learning. This teaching guide shares links to material and information for understanding how trauma and stress manifest in the brain and body, and provides resources for supporting students and faculty in crisis.

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• RESEARCH

  Examine selected research on students in higher education who experience trauma, stress, and crisis: 

  Baloran, E. T. (2020). Knowledge, Attitudes, Anxiety, and Coping Strategies of Students during COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Loss & Trauma, 25(8), 635–642. https://doi.org/10.1080/15325024.2020.1769300(opens in new window)

  Di Pietro, G. (2018). The academic impact of natural disasters: evidence from L’Aquila earthquake. Education Economics, 26(1), 62–77. https://doi.org/10.1080/09645292.2017.1394984(opens in new window)

  Choudhury, T. K., John, K., & Nanavaty, N. (2019). Impacts of challenging life experiences on professional development in graduate trainees. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 29(2), 108–118. https://doi.org/10.1037/int0000151(opens in new window)

  Tang, Y. Y., Hölzel, B. K., & Posner, M. I. (2015). The neuroscience of mindfulness meditation. Nature reviews Neuroscience, 16(4), 213–225. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn3916(opens in new window)

• APPLICATION

  In addition to cultivating community, communication, and well-being in your teaching, it is important to know how to react when a student or fellow faculty member approaches us or we recognize that a person is in a state of crisis? Here are some steps and strategies to guide you should find yourself supporting a student or colleague in a crisis situation:

  Get to know your students and check-in or communicate often. Become familiar with Recognizing Distress(opens in new window) and the resources in the CSU Red Folder(opens in new window). If you recognize any of these signs in your students or colleagues, SAY SOMETHING - your expression of care and concern could save a life. Be direct, listen attentively, and if concern for the person’s wellbeing remains, submit a referral(opens in new window) to the Campus Assessment and Response Education (CARE) Team. Ensure that connection to appropriate campus resources are facilitated, and document the conversation and any actions taken to support the student or faculty member. 

  NOTE. The CARE Team is not tasked with responding to emergencies. If you or someone you know are in need of immediate assistance, please contact University Police at 530-898-5555.

  PLEASE ALSO NOTE: Faculty and staff at CSU are mandated to report crisis situations involving sexual misconduct, and domestic or dating violence to the appropriate Title IX(opens in new window) contact.