Mental Health Issues
In 2020, a study found that nearly 50% of college students “screened positive” for depression and/or anxiety. While this statistic is directly tied to CV-19, there is no doubt that many students struggle with mental health issues, even when there is no pandemic.
As a tutor, you may discover that students share information with you about their mental health issues, information that they might not readily share with other college professionals. What do you do when a student tells you he is depressed or struggling with anxiety? Certainly, you can point him in the direction of the campus Psychological Counseling Center, where students can receive both individual and group counseling. However, you should also seek advice from the instructor. Do not assume this responsibility alone.
This is the advice given by the psychological counseling center:
If you are concerned about a student, please share your concerns with PCC staff, or with the student directly. If you choose to speak to the student, be caring, honest and non-judgmental. Be specific and concrete about what you have observed that concerns you. Suggest the student speak to PCC staff. If the student agrees, offer to facilitate the contact with PCC, because often a student in crisis feels unable to manage what typically may be a simple task.
PCC staff value faculty and staff consultations about students of concern. Faculty/staff intervention in assisting a student to seek psychological services may be significant to a student’s ability to successfully complete a college degree.
What do you do if you sense the student is in a crisis situation?
If you are concerned about a student, contact the PCC at (845) 257-2920 for a consultation, or you may refer the student to the PCC directly.
Outside of regularly-scheduled working hours, please contact University Police (845-257-2222) to be connected to the PCC “Emergency Contact for Student Consult” (ECSC).
Read more about the services of the campus Psychological Counseling Center.
Learning Disabilities
Let’s say that you suspect that one of the students you are tutoring has a learning disability. What should you do? If the student has not shared the fact that she has ADHD, a processing disorder, or dyslexia with you for instance, then it would be inappropriate to ask the student directly about a disability. Sometimes, students will indirectly indicate a diagnosis. For example, she might say, “Oh, I used to get extra time on tests in high school.” Even in this case, asking the student to disclose why she was given extra time would be a violation of her privacy and also unprofessional.
Anytime you suspect a student may have a disability, indicate this to the course instructor, either in a separate email or in the Notes/Observations section of the Weekly Tutoring Log. The instructor may decide to speak to the student and/or relay concerns to the student’s academic advisor.
However, if a student is forthright about a disability, then you can certainly point them in the direction of the resources at the campus Disability Resource Center (DRC). It is not uncommon for college students to not file for accommodations—even when they are entitled to them. If you are working with a student who is clearly struggling with an issue she has talked to you about, be positive about all the resources at the DRC. Students should be provided with the services they need.
