AS&E Students
Arts and Sciences, Engineering, SMFA at Tufts
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AS&E Students
Arts and Sciences, Engineering, SMFA at Tufts
Health & Wellness

CMHS Resources for Faculty and Staff

Clinical Services

Staff and faculty are not eligible for services at CMHS. If you are looking for mental health services, consider the following options:

  • Visit the KGA website for EAP services and resources or call 800-648-9557. The Tufts Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers confidential counseling and referrals to assist you and your adult household members with a number of personal and professional issues, work and family life, health and wellness, and other work/life issues.
  • Call your primary care physician or your health insurance customer service representative for a referral to a mental health practitioner.
  • Visit the BCBS website for health plan coverage information or call 888-261-0133.
  • Contact Tufts Support Services for benefits questions at TSS@Tufts.edu or 617-627-7000

Helping Distressed Students

As a member of a university community, there may be times when you feel concerned about a student or friend at Tufts. The following guidelines can help you know when to be concerned and how to approach the student:

Recognizing Students in Distress

Everyone experiences distress sometimes. Many people may experience one of these signs at different times and are not necessarily in severe distress. However, when someone is experiencing several of these signs—or if they persist—then it may indicate more severe difficulties that warrant professional help.

Academic Indicators

  • Repeated absences
  • Missed assignments, exams, or appointments
  • Deterioration in quality or quantity of work
  • Extreme disorganization or erratic performance
  • Written or artistic expression of unusual violence, social isolation, despair or confusion, preoccupation with suicide or death
  • Continual seeking of special provisions (e.g., extensions on papers, make-up exams)

Behavioral and Emotional Indicators

  • Direct statements indicating distress, family problems, or loss
  • Angry or hostile outbursts, yelling or aggressive comments
  • Withdrawn from others, low motivation
  • Expressions of hopelessness or worthlessness; crying or tearfulness
  • Expressions of severe anxiety or irritability
  • Failure to respond to outreach by professors or staff
  • More animated than usual, euphoria, overly enthusiastic

Physical Indicators

  • Deterioration in physical appearance or personal hygiene
  • Excessive fatigue, exhaustion, falling asleep in class repeatedly
  • Visible changes in weight, statements about change in appetite or sleep
  • Noticeable cuts, bruises or burns
  • Frequent or chronic illness
  • Disorganized speech, rapid or slurred speech, confusion
  • Unusual inability to make eye contact
  • Coming to class bleary-eyed or smelling of alcohol or marijuana

It's Okay to Ask

When you are concerned about a student or peer, you might hesitate to inquire further about their well-being because you worry that it’s an invasion of privacy or that bringing it up will somehow make the situation worse. However, if you are worried about someone, it is usually best to express genuine concern and interest. Questions coming from a place of concern are most often experienced as caring and may be the opening a student or friend needs to talk about what is bothering them.

Responding to Students in Distress

  • Choose a time and a place that is private.
  • Express your concern and caring.
  • Avoid trite or overly general answers.
    • Example: Instead of “Don’t worry, it’s not that big of a deal,” try “it sounds like that’s really worrying you.”
    • Example: Instead of “Everything will be alright,” try “You’re going through something really hard right now.”
  • Share the things that you have noticed that have led to your concern.
  • If they are not interested in talking, let them know that you are available if they would like to talk another time.
  • Listen attentively.
  • Avoid making promises of confidentiality or getting sworn to secrecy.
  • Suggest resources and referrals.
  • Try to use specific, nonjudgmental terms that reflect your concern.
    • Example: Instead of “Why haven’t you been in class?” try “I noticed you’ve been absent from class lately and I’m concerned.”
  • Respect their value systems, even if you don’t agree.

Resources and Referrals for Students in Distress

  • Counseling and Mental Health Service
    • Referrals, consultations, crisis intervention, 24/7 on-call for psychiatric emergencies
    • 617-627-3360 (follow prompts if after hours)
  • CARE
    • Confidential support and advocacy for Tufts students impacted by sexual misconduct/harm
    • 617-627-3752
    • care@tufts.edu
  • Student Support
  • StAAR Center
  • Office of Equal Opportunity
    • Confidential reporting, investigation, and response to allegations of discrimination, harassment, and misconduct
    • 617-627-3150
    • oeo@tufts.edu
  • Residential Life and Learning
  • Tufts University Police Department
    • Immediate, 24/7 response for emergencies
    • 617-627-6911

What is a Mental Health Emergency? 

The situation is urgent if:

The situation is an emergency if:

You’re concerned about a student’s mental health or you’re not sure how worried to be. For example:

  • Severe hopelessness, depression, isolation, or withdrawal
  • Statements that suggest the student is “going away for a long time”

You think a student is in immediate or imminent danger (physical, medical, threats to harm self or others). For example:

  • Suicidal statements or plans (written or verbal)
  • Physical or verbal aggression
  • Student is unresponsive to the external environment
  • Student is incoherent or passed out
  • Student is disconnected from reality/experiencing psychosis
  • Situation feels threatening or dangerous

Stay with the student (if they’re with you) and call CMHS at 617-627-3360.

After hours, you can reach the clinician on call at 617-627-3360 and following the prompts

Call TUPD at 617-627-6911

Take Care of Yourself, Too

Caring about and helping others is important, but it is also important to take care of yourself as well. If you start to feel too burdened, overwhelmed, or concerned about a student or peer, it’s time to seek support. Call CMHS and ask to speak to a counselor for consultation.

View Our Printable Guide, How to Help Students in Distress

Programming and Outreach

Faculty and staff may reach out to us to schedule non-clinical workshops for your class, club, or meeting. This can be a great option for faculty who may need to cancel their classes. Visit our Programming and Outreach page for information.