AWARE Network
This site is dedicated to helping WSU Tri-Cities students be successful by providing a forum for early intervention to anyone who has direct contact with students. Through this website we hope to provide you with the resources you need to assist a student, and/or open communication channels so that someone else may provide the appropriate help.
The AWARE Network is monitored Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Assistance & referral form
Are you concerned about a student's physical or mental health? Has a student's behavior caused you to worry about his or her potential actions? Become aware of the warning signs and if needed, complete the Assistance & Referral Form to inform appropriate university personnel.
Warning signs
Changes in a student's style and level of functioning are often indicators of distress. The suddenness and extent of change may reflect the severity of the difficulty.
Faculty & staff should be aware of:
- Assignments not being turned in, or turned in late
- A change in frequency of absences from class
- Disinterest, apathy, and hopelessness
- Disruptiveness in class (e.g. angry outbursts, acting out)
- Excessive emotional content in discussing or writing class materials
- Mention of suicide or homicide in the content of coursework
- Significant decline or deficit in self care behaviors,(e.g. personal hygiene, extreme weight loss)
- Noticeable changes in personality or behavior
- Change in perception of reality
- Significant paranoia regarding government, law enforcement, administration, etc
Fellow students should be aware of:
- Communicating threats against self, others, or the campus
- Fantasizing about harm to self, others, or the campus
- Aggressive behavior or speech
- Frequent mentioning of or discussion about death
- Noticeable changes in personality or behavior
- Increase in substance use/abuse
- Disinterest, apathy, and hopelessness
- Social withdrawal
Immediate mental health emergencies:
Signs that the student may be experiencing a mental health emergency and, potentially, in danger of harm to self or others include:
- Direct suicidal or homicidal statements
- Bizarre speech
- Loss of contact with reality
- Extreme anxiety; panic
In these instances, walk the student to Counseling Services (West 269E), or call 911.
