Concerned About a Student?

If you are worried about another student, you can call Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS) at 303-492-2277 or stop by during our walk-in hours Monday through Friday from 10 AM – 4 PM to speak with a licensed professional.

All fee-paying students are eligible to receive a limited number of mental health visits at either CAPS location per academic year. We also have a variety of groups and workshops available.

For more information about CAPS click here.

Supporting Your Student

• Stay in touch. Contact your student on a regular basis. Even though college can be a time to experiment with independent choices, your student still needs to know that you are there and available to talk. 
• Listening is vital. Be open to hearing about both normal events and difficult issues.
• Be realistic about academic achievements and grades. The transition to college-level academic demands can be difficult and take time. Developing or refining the capacity to work independently and consistently can be more important than grades, as long as the student meets the basic academic requirements set out by the university.
• Allow your student to set the agenda for some of your conversations. Make room for touchy subjects that may arise and respond calmly.
• If your student experiences difficulties at CU, there are a wealth of resources available on campus.

For more information about CAPS click here.

As an employee interacting daily with students, you are in an excellent position to recognize behavior changes that characterize the emotionally troubled student.  A student’s behavior, especially if it is inconsistent or unusual, could be a signal for help. Your willingness to address a situation is often the encouragement a student needs to get assistance and continue successfully in school.

Some Classroom Signs of Distress:

• Sudden drop in class attendance.
• Drop in quality of class work.
• Atypical, inappropriate or bizarre responses.
• Inability to remain focused.
• Excessive procrastination.
• Repeated requests for special consideration (for example, deadline extensions.)

General Suggestions:

• Talk with the student in private.
• Reassure the student for talking with you.
• Listen carefully.
• Try to help the student identify the problem in a way that is most appropriate for you.
• Be discrete but don’t promise confidentiality since you may be mandated to report (if staff or faculty).
• Refer the student to CAPS for our free services.
• Consult with Student Support and Case Management. 

Know your personal limits as a helper. You may not feel comfortable trying to help a student cope with a particular problem, but you could help them get connected with a department which can provide the necessary services.

CAPS staff members also serve as liaisons to residence life, academic departments and student affairs departments. These relationships help us personalize our services to be most effective in each specific context. We also find that building personal connections through liaison relationships helps to foster trust in times of crisis, enabling us to work together and support students’ needs.

Find your campus liaison

For more information about CAPS click here.