Recognizing and Responding to Students in Distress

Supporting Students in Distress GuideOften, Lakehead University faculty and staff are the first to notice when a student may be struggling,  whether it's a change in behaviour, missed classes, or something shared in conversation.

To help you navigate these situations with confidence, Student Health and Wellness has developed the Supporting Students in Distress module and campus-specific guides. These tools are designed to help you recognize signs of distress, respond with care, and refer students to the right supports.

You don’t need to have all the answers; just knowing how to check in and where to point students for help can make a meaningful difference. Our goal is to make that process as clear, manageable, and supportive as possible.

Supporting Students in Distress Training

This self-paced module guides how to:

  • Recognize signs of distress

  • Approach and support students

  • Refer appropriately to resources

To access the module:

  1. Log in to MyCourselink.
  2. Select "Self-Registration: Academic Support and Training".
  3. Choose "Supporting Students in Distress: On Demand".
  4. Follow the prompts to register and complete the course.
Download the Guide