Spring Break
Brochure reinforces issue of student mental health
Roger Sauerhaft
Issue date: 3/7/08 Section: Campus
Miami's Institutional Response Team (IRT) took efforts this week to raise awareness among staff and faculty regarding how to handle students who might be in distress.
An informational brochure titled "Guidelines for Faculty and Staff in Responding to Critical Student Behavioral Situations," was distributed to every department.
The intended goal, according to Miami University Police Chief and IRT co-chair John McCandless, is to increase awareness of current programs that have already been in place to handle risk students.
"For a faculty or staff (member) or student who may not really know who to call if someone's in crisis, or (if someone) thinks there is a problem, I think the brochure walks you through the processes that have been in place for a long time," McCandless said.
According to McCandless, the brochure provides information for recognizing students in distress and responding adequately. It also describes what to do in the rare event of an active shooter being present. Also included are telephone numbers to dial for students in distress and students involved in emergencies.
He said these programs were in existence for many years, and weren't merely a response to the events at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University. Little in terms of policy or programs has changed since the shootings on other campuses, McCandless said.
"A lot of us have already been doing the things that have been in place to make Miami safe, but there is certainly a lot more 'what are you doing' and 'how does this work,' and I think the brochure kind of ties all of that together," McCandless said.
The IRT has been around for nearly 15 years, although it has undergone a few evolutions, according to Vice President of Student Affairs Richard Nault.
The brochure, McCandless said, is synthesizing what Miami already has had in place. He also said this increased awareness would not end up having any negative affects, such as negative consequences for innocent students.
An informational brochure titled "Guidelines for Faculty and Staff in Responding to Critical Student Behavioral Situations," was distributed to every department.
The intended goal, according to Miami University Police Chief and IRT co-chair John McCandless, is to increase awareness of current programs that have already been in place to handle risk students.
"For a faculty or staff (member) or student who may not really know who to call if someone's in crisis, or (if someone) thinks there is a problem, I think the brochure walks you through the processes that have been in place for a long time," McCandless said.
According to McCandless, the brochure provides information for recognizing students in distress and responding adequately. It also describes what to do in the rare event of an active shooter being present. Also included are telephone numbers to dial for students in distress and students involved in emergencies.
He said these programs were in existence for many years, and weren't merely a response to the events at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University. Little in terms of policy or programs has changed since the shootings on other campuses, McCandless said.
"A lot of us have already been doing the things that have been in place to make Miami safe, but there is certainly a lot more 'what are you doing' and 'how does this work,' and I think the brochure kind of ties all of that together," McCandless said.
The IRT has been around for nearly 15 years, although it has undergone a few evolutions, according to Vice President of Student Affairs Richard Nault.
The brochure, McCandless said, is synthesizing what Miami already has had in place. He also said this increased awareness would not end up having any negative affects, such as negative consequences for innocent students.
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