Signs of Distress

Recognizing a need for support

Parents, friends, faculty, and staff are often the first individuals to notice signs of distress in students— but they aren’t the only ones. The following may indicate that someone is in distress and would benefit from additional support:

• Significant change in appearance (including hygiene, weight gain/loss), personality, attitude, mood, or behavior
• Decline in academic, social, and/or job performance or functioning
• Change in sleep (oversleeping or insomnia)
• Change in appetite (eating too much or too little)
• Social withdrawal/isolation
• Irritability
• Increase in or frequent use of substances (alcohol and/or other drugs)
• Problems with concentration, energy, and/or motivation
• Odd/bizarre speech or reasoning
• Aggressive, violent behavior or threats
• Attention-getting behavior
• Talk of/fascination with death or dying
• Feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, worthlessness, or purposelessness
• Direct/indirect threats of harm to self