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How to Respond to a Concern or Other Emergency at YSU

 

 

If a student is identified as being in immediate danger - click here. Otherwise, see below for more information. 

 

1. Identify Signs of distress:

  • Nervousness, agitation, irritability
  • Seldom, leaves their room/infrequent class attendance
  • Tearfulness
  • Changes in academic performance behaviors
  • Undue aggressive or abrasive behavior
  • Fearfulness
  • Dependency (i.e. student who is excessively clingy)
  • Frequent alcohol and/or drug use

 

2. Express Your Concerns to the student:

Point out your observations and inquire about their situation

 

3. Identify Warning Signs:

 (not a comprehensive list)

  • Withdrawal from others (isolation)
  • Talks about or threatens suicide
  • Makes statements such as "I want this all to end" or "I can't go on anymore"
  • Significant confusion
  • Behavior that is bizarre, alarming, and/or dangerous
  • Makes statements about hunting/killing others
  • Marked change in behavior, mood and/or hygiene
  • Appears depressed (frequent crying, insomnia, oversleeping, weight loss/gain)
  • Appears/reports hopelessness or helplessness
  • Engagement in self-harm (i.e. cutting)
  • Request for excessive excused absences due to physical illness or poor mental health
  • Joking about suicide and/or self-harm

Are you worried about the student's safety or do you see any of the possible warning signs listed above? If YES, continue to the next section. 

YES    |    UNCLEAR    |    NO

 

 

4. Student Is in imminent Danger

  • Individual is disoriented, found unconscious or responsive, bleeding, or experiencing another health concern.
  • Individual is threatening immediate danger to self.
  • Individual threatens to cause harm to someone else or people in general

 

DO NOT LEAVE THE INDIVIDUAL ALONE

IMMEDIATELY

Call YSU Police at (330) 941-3527 or 911 from a campus telephone

If at an off-campus location, call 911

Write down:

  1. Everything you know about the situation (who, what, where & when)
  2. Any Information you have about the students difficulties (including history)
  3. A number where you can be reached
  4. Give this information to the dispatcher (to assist emergency treatment providers)

 

Submit a Penguin of Concern Referral

Penguin of Concern Form

 

Dean of Students (or designee) will notify the appropriate campus administrators and resources. 

 

 

5. UNCLEAR IF STUDENT IS IN DANGER

  • Individual makes statements that are suggestive of suicidal/homicidal thinking that are not overtly indicative of imminent danger (i.e "I don't know if I can keep going" or "I don't know how long I can stay here")
  • Individual appears emotionally distraught, displays erratic behavior and does not respond to your attempts to calm them
  • Individual's communications contain material that raises concerns about suicide, homicide, and/or violence 

 

IF CONCERN IS RELATED TO A STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH CONCERN

Call YSU Student Counseling Services and ask to consult with a counselor at (330) 941-3737. If after hours call (330) 941-3737 and press “1” after brief message to be connected to Mental Health Professional who can assist. FOR ALL OTHER STUDENT ISSUES OR CONCERNS… Contact the Dean of Students at 330-941-4721 or dos@ysu.edu.

 

Submit a Penguin of Concern Referral

Penguin of Concern Form

 

Dean of Students (or designee) will notify the appropriate campus administrators and resources. 

 

Note: For concerns related to a ysu faculty, staff, or volunteer:

Contact the Office of Human Resources

To report sexual harassment, sexual assault, stalking, relationship violence, discrimination, or other harassment (instead, use links below)

  •  If you were subjected to or witnessed an incident of sexual harassment, sexual assault, stalking, relationship violence, gender discrimination, and/or pregnancy discrimination, you may File a Standard Report or File an Anonymous Report.
  • If you feel that you have been subjected to discrimination or harassment (including threats) based on sex, race, color, religion, national origin (including shared ancestry), ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, disability, or veteran/military status or any other basis protected by law, or are aware of threat(s) to a member of the campus community, you may File a Standard Report or File an Anonymous Report.

Report alleged violations of The Student Code of Conduct by using the Incident Reporting Form.

 

 

6. IMMINENT DANGER IS NOT CLEARLY PRESENT

 

Submit a Penguin of Concern Referral

Penguin of Concern Form

Someone from the Office of dean of Students will reach out to ensure the student is connected with the appropriate resources.

 

What else can I do?

  • Discuss campus and community resources that might be helpful and address any concern the individual might have about these resources.
  • Consider calling with or accompanying the individual to the appropriate resource below:

YSU Police
330.941.3527


Student Counseling Services
330.941.3737


Dean of Students 
330.941.4721


Title IX Coordinator
330.941.4629


Accessibility Services 
330.941.1372


Resch Academic Success Center
330.941.3538


Mercy Health @ Wick 
330.747.4660


Community Standards & 
Student Conduct
330.941.4704


Financial Aid & Scholarships 
330.941.3505


Penguin Service Center 
330.941.6000