UNCG’s CARE Team is an interdisciplinarity unit responsible for holistically supporting students by identifying, assessing, and responding to distressing academic, emotional, and/or life challenges. UNCG’s CARE Team promotes a Culture of Care through assessment, outreach, and education.

Signs of distress

  • Abrupt change in manner, style, or personal hygiene
  • Dramatic weight loss or weight gain
  • Lack of energy or falling asleep in class
  • Impaired speech or disjointed confused thoughts
  • Suicidal thoughts, plans, threats
  • Abuse of alcohol and/or drugs
  • Unprovoked anger or hostility
  • Expressions of hopelessness
  • Unusually low self-esteem
  • Extreme mood changes
  • Sleeps too much
  • Social isolation
  • Loss of interest in formerly pleasurable or meaningful activities
  • Acting recklessly or engaging in risky activities seemingly without thinking
  • Uncharacteristically poor work
  • Dropping grades
  • Changes in class participation
  • Frequent class absence or “disappearance” over extended periods

Concerned about a student?

Send the person’s information to one of the office below:

In case of emergency, please call University Police: (336) 334-4444

*Many thanks to Gary Pavela of the University of Maryland for much of the language and expertise contained in the FAQs.  (Used with his permission, August 2007.)

College Students’ Mental Health Fast Facts

  • During the 2020–2021 school year, more than 60% of college students met the criteria for at least one mental health problem. (Healthy Minds, 2021)
  • 72.4% of students met criteria for moderate or serious psychological distress. (National College Health Assessment – Fall 2022)
  • 51.7% of students scored positive for loneliness. (National College Health Assessment – Fall 2022)
  • Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among college students. (Turner et al, 2013)
  • The college student suicide rate is lower than the suicide rate among all 18-24 year olds in the U.S. (WISQARS, April 2023)
  • Transgender and nonbinary students report far higher rates of suicide-related thoughts and behaviors than cisgender students. (American College Health Association, 2022)
  • Suicide is preventable. Colleges can work to reduce the stigma of getting help, end discrimination against certain student groups, and eliminate barriers to culturally sensitive mental health care. (Welding, 2023)

References

American College Health Association. American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment III: Undergraduate Student Reference Group Data Report Spring 2022 (PDF). Silver Spring, MD: American College Health Association. Spring 2022.

American College Health Association (2021). National College Health Assessment: Reference Group Executive Summary. Accessed July 19, 2023. https://www.acha.org/documents/ncha/NCHA-III_FALL_2022_REFERENCE_GROUP_EXECUTIVE_SUMMARY.pdf

The Healthy Minds Study. 2021-2022 National Data Report. March 2023.

Turner, J., Leno, E. V., Keller, A. Causes of Mortality Among American College Students: A Pilot Study. Journal of College Student Psychotherapy. January 2013.

Welding, L. Suicide at Colleges: Rates, Research, and Statistics. BestColleges. May 2023.

WISQARS: Explore Fatal Injury Data Visualization Tool. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed April 2023.

staff support contact

Ashley O’Donnell, Assistant Dean

Supports students needing additional support related to mental health and oversees the CARE Team.

or email [email protected]

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