Managing Stress and
Assisting Others
for Academic Advisors
Presented by
University Counseling Services
Virginia Commonwealth University
http://www.students.vcu.edu/counseling/
Lyndon J. Aguiar, Ph.D.
Challenges Facing Students
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What are challenges?
How do you see your role?
What do you think are the top mental
health concerns at VCU?
Top Concerns at UCS
Anxiety
 Relational
 Depression
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Substance use
Adjustment
Eating and body image
Attention and learning
Research
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Levels of stress in medical students is
higher than that seen in the general
population
Sources of stress are not always evident
o
“Feeling useless” was most commonly endorsed
source of stress in one study
Identifying stress
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Students may not specifically say “I am
stressed”
Symptoms include:
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Falling behind on course work
Insomnia/hypersomnolence
Feeling of tension in shoulders, arms, or face
Irritability
Difficulty concentrating
Withdrawal
Emotions
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CRYING student – “not always an accurate
barometer of the degree of someone’s distress”
ANGRY student – remain calm, explain your role,
avoid personalizing the anger
If you believe the student is in danger of
harming self or others, contact your dean, UCS
(804) 828-6200, as well as VCU Police (804)
828-1234
Myths and Realities
about Mental Health
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Myth - Confronting a person about suicide will only
make them angry and increase the risk of suicide.
Fact - Asking someone directly about suicidal or
homicidal intent lowers anxiety, opens up
communication and lowers the risk of an impulsive act.
Myth - Only experts can prevent suicide.
Fact - Suicide prevention is everybody’s business, and
anyone can help prevent the tragedy of suicide.
Myths and Realities
about Mental Health (continued)
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Myth - Suicidal people keep their plans to themselves.
Fact - Most suicidal people communicate their intent
sometime during the week preceding their attempt.
Myth - Those who talk about suicide don’t do it.
Fact - People who talk about suicide may try, or even
complete, an act of self-destruction.
Adapted from QPR Training
How to Help a Student?
When a student approaches you:
 Express concern and ask questions
 Show empathy
 Listen intently to direct and indirect verbal cues,
and be aware of non-verbals
 Consider multicultural factors
 Focus on observations
 Avoid taking the role of surrogate counselor
 Ask student about his/her experience with
counseling and provide the student with
information
How to Help a Student?
When a student does NOT approach you:
 Approach the student after taking into
consideration safety factors
 Consider timing and location
 Be direct, but not punitive
 Express concern, ask questions, allow the
student to speak freely, listen intently
How to Refer Students to UCS?
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Explain limitations of your role
Emphasize confidentiality and impartiality of
counseling
Provide information about location of UCS and
how to make an appointment – walk student
over if necessary
Mention how other students may have benefited
from counseling
Follow-up with student
Reducing Stress
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Deep breathing
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Body scan
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Progressive muscle relation
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Guided imagery
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Mindfulness training
Conclusion
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Stress is a genuine concern when working
with VCU students, especially when
transitioning to a new environment
There are ways to recognize excessive
stress and suicidality in students
Many techniques can be helpful in
reducing stress
UCS Website – see our new
Self-Help Page
“Like” us on Facebook
Where are the offices?
On Monroe Park Campus
E
Student Commons
907 Floyd Ave., Rm. 238
D On MCV Campus:
Grant House
1008 E. Clay Street, B011