{"id":43142,"date":"2017-01-24T18:06:31","date_gmt":"2017-01-24T22:06:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/?p=43142"},"modified":"2017-01-24T18:22:27","modified_gmt":"2017-01-24T22:22:27","slug":"new-students-at-risk-protocol-introduced","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2017\/01\/new-students-at-risk-protocol-introduced\/","title":{"rendered":"New Students-at-Risk protocol introduced"},"content":{"rendered":"

Its colour is meant to ensure it is easily spotted in times of crisis.<\/p>\n

The Identifying and Responding to Students in Distress document, known by many on campus as the Orange Folder, has been given an overhaul for the first time in more than five years.<\/span><\/p>\n

A more comprehensive version of the helpful tool will be distributed to more than 1,500 staff and faculty across the University beginning Tuesday, Jan. 24.<\/span><\/p>\n

The new document is expected to reach Brock offices in time for the campus-wide discussion on mental health prompted\u00a0by the annual Bell Let\u2019s Talk Day on Jan. 25.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt has been significantly updated,\u201d Student Affairs Manager Darryl Veld said of the folder, which for the first time contains a new Students-at-Risk Protocol that has been updated since being removed from Brock\u2019s Student Code of Conduct.<\/span><\/p>\n

The move was made to help reduce the stigma around mental health.<\/span><\/p>\n

The stand-alone protocol outlines the response and outcomes that follow a disclosure of problematic behaviour.<\/span><\/p>\n

The updated folder, created by the Students-at-Risk (SAR) team, includes information on triage of emergency and crisis situations.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen someone is in a TA\u2019s (teaching assistant\u2019s) office and is having a difficult time, the TA can grab this. They\u2019ll know who to call, what the number is and there will be no fumbling around on Google,\u201d Veld said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone should have it in a drawer near them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

There are nine situations outlined in the document, with information included on whether an immediate response is required as well as potential next steps.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t expect them to be experts (on mental health), but that doesn\u2019t mean they can\u2019t make expert referrals,\u201d Veld said of staff and faculty.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere are eight of us on the Students-at-Risk team \u2014 16 eyes. We\u2019d like there to be 20,000 sets of eyes looking out for people with mental-health concerns and for them to be equipped with the tools to help.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The document will be made accessible to every full-time staff and faculty member on campus.<\/span><\/p>\n

Having the easily-accessible information at hand could mean diverting a crisis or offering assistance in what might be a life-or-death situation, Veld said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis information at your fingertips will help you work through this. Stay calm. Reach for the folder.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The resource, he said,\u00a0is meant to provide staff and faculty\u00a0“confidence in what needs to be done and how to do it” when a sensitive situation presents itself.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Students-at-Risk team acknowledged\u00a0the work of Stacey Jury, Academic Accommodations Co-ordinator with the Student Wellness and Accessibility Centre, for playing a significant role in the folder\u2019s redesign.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you think you know of a student that is at-risk to themselves, contact Campus Security at 905-688-5550, ext. 3200.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re unsure if there is a concern or for non-urgent matters, call Veld at ext. 4041.<\/span><\/p>\n

Who to call on campus in emergency\/crisis situations<\/strong><\/p>\n