Signs a Student’s Mental Health Might be Declining

At Saint Mary’s we strive to create a caring campus community. Everyone has a role to play in supporting students’ mental health, including faculty and staff. Often faculty and staff may be the first to notice a decline in a student’s mental health and become concerned.

In general, when a student is experiencing a decline in their mental health, behavioural changes will be evident. The greater the degree of change, the greater the concern should be.

The signs of distress listed below are discussed in detail during Mental Health 101 training.

• Decline in performance.
• Increased dependency on others.
• Irritability.
• Saying odd or unusual things.
• Shift in social patterns or sociability.
• Avoidance or procrastination.
• Excessive, unwarranted anxiety (one topic of focus during Mental Health 202 training).
• Disruptive behaviour.
• Mood swings or intensified emotional response.
• Inappropriate responses to situations (overreacting or underreacting).
• Persistent worry about unrealistic events.
• Inability to concentrate or lack of focus.
• Difficulty making decisions.
• Change in appearance or personal hygiene.
• Expressions of helplessness or hopelessness.
• References to suicide (the topic of focus during Mental Health 303 training).
• Increase in physical complaints or symptoms.
• Difficult regulating mood.