Do you ever feel out of your depth or overwhelmed with trying to manage students who come to you emotionally distressed? Does this affect your own stress levels? Whether you are a teacher or support staff, it is essential for your own health and well-being and the well-being of your students that you feel resourced with strategies to manage these situations effectively. In this presentation, Jane Daisley-Snow will help you recognize the signs of mental health issues; respond appropriately with ‘mental health first aid’; and refer students on to receive the professional support they need.

1. Tackling Student Mental Health:
Recognise, Respond, Refer
Navitas Learning and Teaching Webinar
Facilitated by Jane Daisley-Snow
MA (Gestalt), Grad Dip Ed, Dip Counselling, Dip Art Therapy
Academic Lead: Course Development (Short Courses)

2. INTRODUCTION
Introduction
Acknowledgement of Country
I want to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the respective lands on which
we each gather today and pay our respect to the First Nations Peoples and
their Elders, past, present and future. To acknowledge their strength and
resilience to thrive as Sovereign Owners.

3. STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH
• As lecturers and student services staff you have a unique
relationship with your students and are often privy to or
directly aware of their stress levels, emotional reactions and
mental health problems.
• This may be communicated by the student verbally or non-
verbally or via a concerned class mate or staff member.
• Knowing how best to respond to your students’ mental
health and well-being and your own is essential to providing
a safe and supportive learning environment.

4. CONTRIBUTING STRESS
STRESS FACTORS
•The experience of new and unfamiliar academic practices
•Culture shock and language barriers for international students
•Lack of skills and knowledge to manage day-to-day living
•Difficulty with balancing part-time work with studies
•Financial difficulties
•Expectations and pressure from parents to succeed
academically
•Pre-existing or undiagnosed mental health conditions
•Other factors (relationship break up, poor living conditions,
assault, self-medicating with drugs and alcohol, problem gambling, homesickness)

5. WHAT IS AN ACCIDENTAL COUNSELLOR?
Accidental Counsellors are people not
formally trained as counsellors, who find they
are placed in a counselling support or
mentoring role by accident, as a result of
requests for help from friends, colleagues,
students, clients or others.

7. STUDENT WELFARE
EARLY INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION
• If you do have concerns for the welfare of a
student then don't be afraid to raise your concerns
with them. They will often feel a sense of relief that
someone has noticed and cares enough to ask
how they are going.
• If your concerns are confirmed, then it is important
to inform the appropriate staff within the
University/College to ensure that the student
receives the professional help and support they
need.

8. BEST PRACTICE
GUIDELINES
• If appropriate, set a time and space to talk privately
• Make sure you are grounded and calm
• Communicate your concern
• Ask and Listen
• Recommend Counselling support as a helpful resource
• Normalise counselling (while being sensitive to cultural diversity and
norms)
• Emphasise confidentiality
• Identify positive benefits of seeking help (career, health)
• Follow up with the student if appropriate
Adapted from English Australia Guide to Best Practice in International Student Mental Health 2018

9. MAINTAINING PROFESSIONAL
BOUNDARIES AND SELF-CARE
• Hold an empathic stance with clear boundaries
• Retain a clear sense of your work role and
responsibility
• Be familiar with and follow organisational guidelines
(students at risk, critical incidences, reporting line,
referral, record keeping)
• Self-care (stress management, de-briefing, peer
support)

10. RECOGNISE, RESPOND & REFER
RECOGNISE signs of stress or mental health issues
RESPOND empathically and with cultural sensitivity
REFER on to professional support services

11. MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS
• Mental health problems include ‘emotional’ and
‘stress’ problems and the more serious conditions
of depression, psychosis and suicidal behaviours
• Anxiety and depression are the most common
mental health issues faced by domestic and
international students

12. FACTS AND FIGURES
– The onset of mental illness is typically around the age18-24 years old
– One in five (20%) Australians aged 16-85 experience a mental illness in
any year.
– Common mental illnesses in Australians are:
anxiety disorders (14%),
depressive disorders (6%)
substance use disorders (5%)
– Every day, at least six Australians die from suicide and a further thirty
people will attempt to take their own life
https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au

13. FACTS AND FIGURES
According to a recent survey conducted by English Australia
–Over 50% of English Language Colleges in Australia believed
that mental health issues had increased in the last 2 years
• Nearly 40% of staff reported speaking with students who had
suicidal thoughts
– (Guide to Best Practice in International Student Mental Health 2018):

14. ANXIETY

15. LIMBIC SYSTEM
FIGHT, FLIGHT, FREEZE

16. Physical signs of
anxiety
Psychological signs of anxiety Behavioural signs of anxiety
Restless
Fidgety
Unable to concentrate
Lip biting
Distracted
Being in an unfamiliar, unpredictable
situation such as travelling overseas,
changing workplaces or schools may trigger
anxiety
Excessive feelings of dread and worry
about what might happen in the future
Persistent worry and endlessly thinking
about events in the past
Obsessive thoughts which are difficult to
stop
Feelings of panic and fear in situations
where there is no actual danger
(SANE Australia)
Not attending class especially
during exam times
Withdrawing from family and
friends
Avoiding anxiety provoking
situations
Not participating in class activities
Relying on alcohol and sedatives
Inability to concentrate
(Beyondblue.org.au)

17. CASE STUDY: HAZEEM
– Hazeem is a 20 year old male student from Pakistan
- Over the past 2 weeks he has been arriving late for class
and looks stressed and overwhelmed
- From previous conversations with him you know that his grandmother back
home is very ill and may die
– He seems very distracted in class and this is reflected in his assignments.
He has just managed to receive a Pass grade.
– In your class today he gets up suddenly and runs out of the room
– When you find him in the corridor you can see he is gasping for breath,is
sweating and looks distressed

18. HOW TO OFFER IMMEDIATE
SUPPORT FOR HAZEEM
• If possible take him to a safe and private space
• Speak in a slow and calm voice
• Ask him to take a few slow, deep breaths. Do this together. Eg) Breathe
in for the count of 3, hold for 3, and exhale for the count of 3. This will
calm his sympathetic nervous system (fight/flight response).
• Encourage him to focus on the present moment by asking him to name 2
things he can see and 2 things he can hear. (This shifts his awareness
away from his mind and stressful thoughts and into his body and
senses)
• When he is feeling more settled. Ask him if he is receiving professional
support for his anxiety and stress. If not, recommend he speaks to the
College/University counsellor as soon as possible. Ask if he would like
one of his fellow class mates to be with him today.

19. DEPRESSION

20. Real life Case Study of Chinese student:
Zhikai Liu ( Victoria, 2016)
– Struggled to understand his English-language course
– Difficulties with his girlfriend
– Sleep problems
– Confided to his sister that he was thinking about self – harm yet
refused any help for his suspected depression
– 3 months after his arrival in Australia he died in a fall which was later
ruled to be suicide
https://www.coronerscourt.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-01/16%201035.pdf

21. Emotional signs of depression Behavioural signs of
depression
Depressive thoughts
Overwhelmed
Indecisive
Miserable
Sad
Irritable
Frustrated
Lacking in confidence
(From beyondblue.org.au)
Not going out anymore
Not getting things done at
work/university
Withdrawing from close family and
friends
Relying on alcohol and sedatives
Not doing usual enjoyable
activities
Difficulty sleeping or sleeping a lot
Unable to concentrate
(From beyondblue.org)
'I’m a failure’
'It’s my fault’
'Nothing good ever happens to
me’
'I’m worthless’
'Life’s not worth living’
'People would be better off without
me’
(From beyondblue.org.au)

22. WAYS TO SUPPORT A PERSON
INDICATING SIGNS OF DEPRESSION
• Be there
• Listen empathically
• Don’t criticise or judge
• Don’t minimise the pain
• Avoid offering advice
• Encourage the person to receive professional
support

23. WHAT TO SAY AND NOT TO SAY
What not to say
– What’s wrong with you?
– Cheer up
– We all go through times like these
– Try seeing the glass as half full
instead of half empty
– You have so much to live for
What to say
– Tell me what I can do to help you
– I can see this is a really hard time for
you
– We’re going to find a way to help you
feel better
– You may not believe it now, but the
way you are feeling will change
- Culturally sensitive responses
(Modified from ruok.org.au)

24. EXAMPLE: CURTIN COLLEGE SUPPORT
SERVICES
Student Counsellor :Curtin College – 9266 4893 or via Reception
CU Counselling Services: 9266 7850; Building 109
CU Multi-faith: 9266 3714; Building 109
Crisis Care Helpline: 24Hours 9223 1111
or Free call: 1800 199 008
Lifeline: 24hr crisis / suicide line 13 11 14 or www.lifelinewa.org.au
Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636 or www.beyondblue.org.au
Samaritans: 24 Hour Crisis Line 13 52 47 or www.thesamaritans.org.au
YouthLine: 1800 198 313

25. MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES
• World Health Organization https://www.who.int/mental_health/en/
• Black Dog Institute - website provides information about depression and mental health https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/
• Beyond Blue-website provides information about mental health and how to access support and health services
https://www.beyondblue.org.au/
• Itsallright website run by SANE Australia, providing information and support around
mental illness for young people www.itsallright.org/
• Blue Knot Foundation (Trauma-informed Care & Practice) https://www.blueknot.org.au/Helpline
• R U Ok? is an Australian non-profit suicide prevention organisation https://www.ruok.org.au
• Reachout is an internet service for young people that provides information, support and resources about mental health issues
https://au.reachout.com

27. QUESTION TIME