College students often experience high levels of stress. Most students successfully cope with university life; however, some become overwhelmed. A significant number of college students have their education and personal lives disrupted by psychological problems. When psychological difficulties go untreated, the results can be serious and include academic failure and even withdrawal from the university.
Faculty and staff play a key role in identifying and responding to distressed students. As a faculty or staff member, you often get the first glimpse of students in trouble and may be the first person who students turn to for help. Responding to students in distress, however, can be confusing and overwhelming. The tabs below provide information on talking with professionals about students of concern and strategies to use when addressing student concerns.
Consult with a Counselor
Warmline: A Non-Emergency Consultation Service
Phone Number: (301) 314-7651
The Counseling Center’s Warmline is a non-emergency consultation service for UMD faculty and staff as well as family or friends who may be concerned about UMD students experiencing emotional, social, and/or academic issues.
Faculty and staff are often the first to observe and respond to student problems. The Warmline offers concerned individuals the opportunity to speak with a mental health professional, who can provide support and advice pertaining to student-related problems.
What types of student-related concerns have been discussed by Warmline callers?
- Signs of anxiety and depression
- Assistance with encouraging a student to seek mental health treatment
- Inability to select a major
- Disruptive behavior in the classroom
- Social withdrawal or difficulty making friends
- Disturbing information expressed aloud or written in papers or on tests
- Decreased attendance and failure to turn in assignments
- Indication of suicidal thoughts or thoughts of violence
How do I contact the Warmline?
Call the Counseling Center at (301) 314-7651 during our regular hours of operation and ask to speak with a counselor about your student-related concern. Our receptionist will take your information and a brief description of your concern to provide to one of our counselors, who will contact you within 24 hours of your call.
What if my concern for a student appears to be an immediate emergency?
In the event of a life-threatening situation or emergency, please call the campus police department at 911 (from an on-campus phone) or (301) 405-3333 (from off-campus phone) or assist the person in getting to the nearest hospital emergency room.
Counseling Center Trainings for Faculty and Staff
The Training to Evaluate, Respond to, and Prevent Suicide (T.E.R.P.S.) for Terps is a 3-hour in-person comprehensive training for UMD faculty and staff that provides the information needed to recognize when a student is in crisis and the skills and resources to respond effectively. Faculty and staff are invited to attend by registering for one of the dates below. Please note that participants are expected to arrive on time and stay for the whole session.
- Thursday, February 19, 1:00–4:00 PM | Register for 2/19
- Friday, March 27, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM | Register for 3/27
- Wednesday, April 22, 1:00–4:00 PM | Register for 4/22
The Helping Students in Distress Workshop is a 1-hour training for UMD faculty and staff. This training will assist you in supporting student mental health by reviewing common student concerns, ways to communicate about mental health with students, available mental health resources and how to refer them, and methods of coping for everyone involved. Register for a Helping Students in Distress Zoom session. When registering you can select any date to attend (the same content will be covered in all sessions).
- Tuesday, February 24, 12:00–1:00 PM
- Friday, April 3, 12:00–1:00 PM
- Monday, April 27, 12:00–1:00 PM
Helping Students in Distress Toolkit
If you believe a student may be at immediate risk, please call Campus Police at 911 or (301) 405-3333.
Helping Students in Distress Webinar Recording
Additional Campus Resources for Students of Concern
Student Safety and Wellbeing
- Campus Police
- For emergencies (immediate threat of harm to self or someone else), dial 911 while on campus or call the UMPD emergency line at (301) 405-3333
- Behavior Evaluation and Threat Assessment (BETA) Team
- Proactively assesses and responds to reports of students exhibiting concerning behaviors. Make a report or call the BETA line at (301) 314-2382
- Counseling Center
- Visits available to students for urgent and routine mental health concerns
- Phone consultation available to faculty and staff about students of concern
- Health Center
- Urgent and routine medical care
- Psychiatry and Substance Use Services (PASS) available to students for urgent and routine and psychiatric and substance use concerns
- CARE to Stop Violence crisis line for survivors of sexual or relationship violence (301) 741-3442
- Dean of Students Office
- Connects students of concern with mental health, academic, financial, legal, and other supports, navigating complex difficulties and barriers along the way
Behavioral Concerns
Essential Needs and Other Supports
- Thrive Center for Essential Needs
- Accessibility and Disability Service (ADS)
- Chaplains
- Ombuds Conflict Resolution: Graduate Office and Undergraduate Office
- Student Legal Aid: Graduate Office and Undergraduate Office
Identity-Based Resources