Level 3 behaviors are often the clearest to identify and respond to since there are specific procedures for responding to students in significant emotional and/or behavioral distress. Basically, you need to stay calm and know who to call for help.
If you are ever concerned about the immediate safety of a student, yourself and/or others, call 911 for police support.
If you have specific questions or concerns about a student, or are unsure about how to approach a situation, call Counseling and Consultation Services (CCS) at 815-753-1206. Indicate that you are concerned about a student, and ask to speak to an available counselor. The CCS staff member can help you:
If you believe that referring a student to CCS would be helpful or necessary, you can proceed in any of the following ways:
After office hours and on the weekends, an on-call counselor is available to provide support to NIU students experiencing mental health emergencies or crisis situations. Faculty, staff, family or friends can also call to discuss mental health emergencies regarding NIU students. Please call 815-753-1206 and you will be forwarded to speak with an on-call counselor.
Students should be encouraged to attend an initial consultation appointment at CCS. Our office is located in the Campus Life Building, room 200. Students can also call the office at 815-753-1206 for more information about an initial consultation appointment and/or the services we offer. Students are seen as soon as possible, although during periods of high demand they may need to wait to see an available counselor. In emergency situations, however, a student will be seen immediately.
Students need to know that using CCS services is confidential. We cannot discuss a student, his/her specific situation or even the fact that counseling is being received at CCS without the student's permission. The only exceptions to this are when we have concerns that a student may be at immediate risk of harming themselves or others, or when we have information about suspected child or elder abuse. Even in these circumstances, communication is limited to those who can provide immediate assistance.
Once a referral to CCS has been initiated, it is recommended that you follow up with the student. Depending on the nature of your relationship with the student, you may also find yourself wondering, " How is it going?" If this is done in a non-intrusive way, such a question may be well-received and appreciated. However, the student's right to privacy and confidentiality should always be respected.
If you wish to give us additional information about a student you referred, you may call our office to do so. We can always receive information and consult with people who are concerned about a student. Please remember that the counselor-client relationship is confidential (see above), so we will not be able to release information without permission from the student unless we determine that the student or someone else is at immediate risk of harm.
Monday-Thursday
Noon - 4 p.m.