Alicia A Bourque, Ph.D.
Director, Counseling & Health Services

 Quick facts about College Mental
Health
 UCC services and trends
 Counseling indications
 Disturbing and threatening behavior
 Confidentiality
 Q & A

Quick Facts about National Trends in
College Students and Mental Health
 Nearly half of college students report feeling so depressed that they have trouble functioning.
 Suicide is the second leading cause of death for college students.
 More students are coming to college with mental health diagnoses. Increased support services provided at a younger age so that academic record is not adversely affected.

 Individual, couples, and group counseling
 Substance abuse screenings
 ADHD evaluations and counseling
 Limited psychiatric medication management appointments
 24/7/365 after hours crisis counseling
 Accessed via LUPD at 504.865.3434
 Outreach programming/Res hall adoption

 20% of Loyola’s student population in any given year
 Average 3500 appointments per year
 Anxiety Disorders
 Mood Disorders (e.g., Depression, Bipolar)
 ADHD
 Partner Relational
 Crises
 Grief

 Daily crisis walk-in hour
 Suicidal/Homicidal
 Recent loss
 Recent trauma
 Waitlist
 Community-based referrals
 Increased group offerings
 Emotional Wisdom
 Sexual Assault Survivors

Changes in Mood or Behavior
 Anxiety and Depression


References to Suicide
Violence and Aggression




Traumatic Changes in Personal Relationships
Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse
Academic Problems
Excessive Absences



Poor Hygiene
Crying in class
Repeated requests for special accommodations

 Can be useful to distinguish between student behavior that is disturbing versus disruptive
 Behavior can be both disturbing and disruptive
 Threatening behavior








A student who jokes in class about killing himself,
A student who perspires profusely when giving a talk in front of class,
A student who discloses that her mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer,
A student who seems to work harder than most students but can’t pass an exam,
A student who appears to be losing significant weight yet speaks with pride about how little he/she eats,
A student whose writing appears disjointed and fragmented, as though he/she cannot maintain a logical sequence in his/her thought process,
A student who reports that FBI agents are following him/her around campus.

 Initiate a conversation with the student about the behavior that concerns you
 Listen to the student
 Consult with other professionals on campus
 Refer to the Care & Concern Committee
 Robert Reed, 504.865.3737, rareed@loyno.edu
 Refer to other professionals on campus
 Students with suicide risk factors should be referred for professional help








Get to know the referral sources
Use a direct approach with the student and express your concern for his or her welfare
Anticipate some concerns about seeking counseling
Create a positive expectation
To make an appointment, student can call
504.865.3835 or stop by our office in the Danna
Center, second floor, room 208
Leave the option open, except in emergencies, for the student to accept or refuse counseling
Ask the student at a later date what action he/she has taken

 A student who implies or makes a direct threat to harm themselves or others.
 A student who displays a firearm or weapon.
 A student who physically confronts/attacks another student.
 A student who stalks or harasses a faculty member.
 A student who sends threatening emails, letters, and other correspondence to a staff member.

 Immediately call LUPD at 504.865.3434.
 Contact Counseling Director for notification, advice and support at 504.865.3835.
 Consult with the UCC to debrief and assist you, staff members and other students.
 UCC staff is trained in confidentiality, if you have a concern about sharing information with a counselor, please express it and the counselor can help set the limit.

 Staffed by four FT professionals and one PT psychiatrist
 No additional charge to students
 All counseling services are confidential
 Hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.
 No session limits
 Emergency after-hours crisis services are available on-call through LUPD at
504.865.3434, 24/7/365

 Professional ethics, state and federal law
 Faculty members often have an understandable desire to know if a student who has been referred has actually attended and made any progress

Q & A
Alicia A. Bourque, Ph.D.
Director, Counseling & Health Services
504.865.3835
aabourqu@loyno.edu