How to make a referral in a non-urgent situation.
- Be prepared to work together with the student.
- Know the resources available and have them easily accessible:
- Personal Counselling x4750 or Online (to make an appointment with a counsellor)
- Student Health Services x3243 (to book an appointment with the mental health nurse or a physician)
Cards for both of these resources are easily accessible by calling either location.
- Have a positive attitude and approach the student in a compassionate, kind manner.
- Let them know help is quickly and easily accessible on campus.
- Normalize the use of counselling and let them know they are not alone in their struggle. Many students use these resources.
- Validate their concerns and let them know their feelings are understandable.
- Let them know the sooner they reach out for help, the sooner they’ll be able to get back to feeling their best.
- Be prepared to make the call with the student and offer them support.
- Set a time for a followup meeting.
- Following up is a key component of the referral process.
- It holds them accountable, especially if they didn’t make the call with you.
- It provides them with something to look forward to.
- When checking in with the student, ask open ended questions.
- If they didn’t follow through with their referral encourage them to try again.
- Be prepared for the student to potentially say no to your referral. It takes time and courage to seek help and the student has to be ready for this major step.
- Accept their decision without judgement.
- If it’s an emergency and life is in danger, contact Campus Security at x3200 or call 911.
- Leave the door open for them to come back to you for more tools and resources.