Supporting students with personal difficulties

If a student starts to talk to you about personal difficulties they are experiencing, there are a number of things you should bear in mind.

Judge the balance

You should encourage the student to talk sufficiently so that you have an understanding of the issues, whilst not going beyond your own level of comfort or competence.

Use your common sense

The balance point will depend upon the circumstances: the nature of the problem and your own willingness and ability to assist them.

It is not possible to be prescriptive about when you should listen and when you should pass the student on to someone with more specialised training and expertise.

Take account of your own circumstances

You may feel quite comfortable supporting a student who has recently suffered bereavement.

However, if you are dealing with a bereavement of your own at the time you may have to bring the conversation to a close very swiftly, helping the student identify other sources of support, such as a close family member or friend, a counsellor or a chaplain.

Never promise confidentiality

When dealing with a student as an employee of the University, it is important to avoid offering absolute confidentiality. There may be circumstances that make this unrealistic or unwise.

Be honest with the student

If you feel a student needs more support than you can offer then it is important to be clear about that and to encourage them to seek professional help.

Suggest other sources of help

There are a number of sources of help for those with particular difficulties: those within the University can be found through the Handbook.

The York and North Yorkshire VCS Directory provides a searchable database of voluntary services within the local community.

Stay in your comfort zone

Sometimes students are reluctant to seek more professional help, feeling that this is shameful in some way or making their difficulties seem more serious than they consider them to be.

However, this does not mean that you are then obliged to offer more than you feel is reasonable or possible.

 
A student in a dark shadow cast across a room (Image: John Houlihan)

Further information