Emergencies
In case of an emergency where the individual's behavior is dangerous, reckless or threatening to themselves or others.
Call 9-1-1.
Seeking Help for a Fellow Spartan
If an Individual is showing signs of distress but it is a not an emergency, follow these steps. This is path of action when you're concerned about someone and want them to get care due to an on-going pattern of behavior or a feeling of uncertainty.
- Submit a CARE Referral.
- Share resources with the individual.
Do you feel a welfare check is needed? Your first-hand information regarding the concern will be helpful to share with the police directly. Please call 911 or the MSU non-emergency number at 517-355-2221.
Seeking Help for Myself
It's okay to ask for help! If you are seeking support for you and would like to contact the OSSA case managers for a one-on-one meeting or a conversation, please complete the Self-Referral Form. You can meet with a case manager virtually or in-person.
OSSA case managers are not confidential resources and do adhere to FERPA privacy laws.
Not Urgent
You're not concerned for the individual's safety, but they're having a difficult time and could benefit from someone checking in on them.
- Refer to CAPS or EAP
- Submit a Care Referral
Taking Action
Three actions to take when you're concerned about someone's well-being:
- Observe: You notice a student or employee who is in distress or experiencing a challenging life situation. Share what you've noticed with the person of concern, listen to their response, and avoid making any judgments or assumptions.
- Connect: Call 9-1-1 immediately if the observed behavior presents an imminent risk to the health and safety of the
individual or others. Ask the person their thoughts on what would be helpful as they may have a sense
of things that might help reduce this distress. Submit a CARE Referral Form for the individual to receive additional
outreach, guidance, and follow-up support. - Empower: Share information about campus and community resources. Inform the individual that a case manager is available to follow up with them if they would like. Thank them for sharing, and encourage the individual to continue to seek support and guidance when they are faced with challenges in the future.
Tips
- Create a culture of care: Continue to check in with your students and employees especially when you can see they may
need support or know they are impacted by outside stressors. - Listen: Practice empathy and active listening. Seek to understand and reserve judgment or assumptions.
- Be direct: In a calm manner, express your concern. Don’t be afraid to ask them if they are under the influence or have
had thoughts of harming themselves or others.
When should a referral be made?
If an MSU student or employee exhibits any of the signs below, make a referral to the Care and Intervention Team:
Academic/Workplace
- Individual is regularly missing class or work
- Quality of work has diminished
- Grades or performance have gone down
- Engagement in class or workplace diminishes significantly
- Disruptive in class or during work
- Individual has shared (in writing or discussion) concerning self-disclosures (e.g., self-harm; suicidal ideation).
Emotional
- Sustained difficulty adjusting to campus life or academics
- Extreme display of emotions (e.g., sadness; nervousness; fearfulness; anger)
- Expressed hopelessness
- Relationship distress
- Shared suicidal ideation or harm to others
Physical
- Individual was recently hospitalized
- Is experiencing chronic health concerns (physical or mental)
- Has experienced significant change in appearance or personal hygiene or noticeable signs of physical injury (e.g., bruising; swelling; cuts)
Behavioral
- Threats or acts of violence to others
- Any behavior that is unusual or unexpected given the circumstances
- Substance misuse
- Changes to eating or sleeping habits.
Other
- Financial distress
- Lack of connection or community on campus
- Expressed difficulty meeting basic needs (housing or food insecurity)
- Recent or past traumatic event
- Victim of crime or serious incident
- Problems at home or with family
- Significant emotional distress and preoccupation with world events that impact a student or employee
Reminder
Please note, these are examples of indicators and not a comprehensive list.
When are referrals reviewed?
Referrals are reviewed daily from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. (Monday–Friday) and are not monitored after normal business hours, on weekends, or during official University holidays. If you need an immediate response, please call 911 or the MSU non-emergency number at 517-355-2221.
Do I need to tell the person I am referring that I made a referral for them?
You can submit a referral without notifying the referred individual. However, if you have a relationship with them and feel comfortable sharing that you plan to refer them, it may be helpful to do so. In this case, you can share your concerns and help the student or employee understand that you are trying to connect them to support and resources to be successful.
What happens after I make a referral?
You will receive a confirmation email that your referral was received and will be reviewed. In some situations, you may be contacted by a team member for additional information. The team will perform outreach based on your referral and unless the referred individual has requested you be updated, you will likely not receive any follow-up or further information due to privacy laws and regulations.