Signs & Symptoms

You can help a student in distress by knowing the signs and symptoms. These include:

  • Excessive procrastination and very poorly prepared work, especially if this is inconsistent with previous efforts
  • Infrequent or inconsistent class attendance with little or no work completed
  • Dependence – the student hangs around you or makes excessive appointments to see you during office hours
  • Chronic fatigue, lack of energy, or frequently falling asleep in class
  • Marked change in personal hygiene
  • Impaired speech or confused, disjointed thoughts
  • Repeated requests for special consideration (eg, deadline extensions)
  • Excessive anger or threats to harm others
  • Behavior that regularly interferes with effective management of your class
  • Suicidal thoughts – referring to suicide as an option, even if in jest
  • Marked irritability, including unruly, aggressive, violent, or abrasive behavior
  • Inability to make decisions despite your repeated attempts to clarify and encourage
  • Dramatic weight loss or weight gain
  • Bizarre or strange behavior that is obviously inappropriate to the situation, (eg, talking to “invisible people”)
  • Normal emotions that are displayed to an extreme degree or for a prolonged period of time (eg, fearfulness, tearfulness, nervousness)

Make a Referral

To make an appointment with our counseling services, you have several options:

For After-Hours Emergencies:

  • Call Campus Police: 864-833-8911
  • Call Emergency Services: 911
  • Visit: Emergency Department of Laurens County Hospital

When & How to Connect Students with Counseling Support

If you notice signs of distress in a student, gently reassure them that confidential help is available through our Counseling Services. Let them know that our professional counselors provide personalized support in a safe, private environment. Encourage them to take the step of scheduling an appointment—sometimes simply knowing someone cares enough to notice can make all the difference.

Here’s what else you can tell the student: 

  • Share the Counseling Services contact information: 864-833-8263, located at 506 South Broad Street
  • For hesitant students, offer to call Counseling Services together. Your presence during this initial contact demonstrates genuine support and ensures the connection is made
  • In emergencies requiring immediate attention, clearly communicate the urgency when calling. Stay with the student and contact Campus Police (x8911) or Drew Peterson, Dean of Students (x8486) if there’s any safety concern
  • When appropriate, accompany the student to either the Dean of Student Affairs in Springs Campus Center or Counseling Services in the Alumni House on 506 South Broad Street
  • If unsure whether a referral is warranted, call Counseling Services (x8100) for a professional consultation
  • Submit a Student CARES Form for non-emergency concerns. A Student Affairs staff member will follow up within one business day
  • For after-hours emergencies, call 911 or direct the student to the Emergency Department of Laurens County Hospital