How Faculty & Staff Can Assist Students in Distress
Teachers and staff are often the first to notice when a student is struggling—through changes in behaviour, hygiene, or attendance. Students may act unusually or share personal difficulties, especially when unable to complete their work.
If you’re concerned about a student, you’re in a key position to offer support and refer them for help. Our mental health professionals are available to consult with faculty, staff, parents, and students.
Please reach out by email, and a mental health professional will follow up to address your concerns and recommend appropriate support or referrals, either within Dawson or to community resources.
All student requests for Mental Health Services are now processed through our intake email: mentalhealth@dawsoncollege.qc.ca which is monitored Monday to Friday, from 8:30am to 4:30pm.
Tips for Referring a Student to Mental Health Services
- Speak privately and express concern. Most students respond well to genuine interest and care.
- Share specific observations (e.g. missed classes, poor grades, unusual behaviour) to highlight your concern and show that you’ve noticed.
- Respect their choice. Except in emergencies, it’s up to the student to accept help. If they are hesitant, suggest using a SOARS referral form or revisiting the idea later.
- Address common concerns. Reassure the student that:
- Psychotherapy at Dawson is free, confidential, and voluntary.
- They can stop at any time or request a different therapist.
- Therapists want to listen, understand, and help explore solutions.
- Offer practical support. Help them make an appointment if needed. If they’re very upset or unlikely to follow through, offer to call or accompany them.
- In urgent cases, contact us directly at mentalhealth@dawsoncollege.qc.ca or call extension 1186.
- Frame psychotherapy positively. Emphasize that seeking support is a mature and proactive step and not a weakness.
- Follow up. Ask how it went and encourage them to continue if they’re unsure. Your support can help them get through the initial discomfort.
Please note: Due to confidentiality, we cannot share any details about a student’s file, including whether they presented themselves to our service.
Mental Health Services are located in room 4E.2 from 8:30am to 4:30pm (excluding weekends and holidays)
The SOARS (Support Options for At-Risk Students) Referral Form is a non-urgent referral tool (found on Omnivox) intended for students who are overcoming significant challenges, and who may be at risk of abandoning their studies at Dawson College. Dawson employees can use this form to connect students to appropriate support services.
