Fear and Loathing In the Classroom… Violence & Safety Issues on Campus James R. Oelschlager, Psy.D. Director, Couns

1. Fear and Loathing In the Classroom… Violence & Safety Issues on Campus James R. Oelschlager, Psy.D. Director, Counseling & Psychological Services Robyn Coombs, Psy.D. Assistant Director, Counseling & Psychological Services September 3, 2008 Counseling and Psychological Services

2. Is a college a safe place to work? 2001 Bureau of Justice Statistics report on “Violence in the Workplace (1993-1999)” found that employees of colleges/universities had the LOWEST victimization rate (1.6 per 1,000 persons) of the occupations examined ! Police officers had the highest rate of experiencing a workplace violent crime Mental health professionals had the second highest rate Bottom Line: Security and CAPS are your buffers ! Counseling and Psychological Services

3. Mental Health Challenges at College Nearly 18 million students attend colleges/universities More students are asking for help More students are presenting with acute or serious disturbances More students are matriculating with psychological disorders More students are matriculating with learning disabilities and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Campus administrators are turning to mental health services to attempt to address these issues. College counseling centers are challenged by staffing and funding issues to address this increase in request for services. Counseling and Psychological Services

4. The College Experience Over thePast 15 Years: Cause for Concern Depression doubled 45% of students self report depression Suicidal behavior tripled 10% of students report suicidal ideation Sexual assaults quadrupled 44% binge drink Is college the best years of your life? (Adapted from Kasdin, 2005) Counseling and Psychological Services

5. CAPS’ Position on Campus Violence • “Front End” tools… • Address student adjustment • Educate campus community towards recognizing signs of maladjustment • Provide students in trouble, a “safe, non-embarrassing, non-stigmatizing” entry into support services • Most effective interventions at reducing campus violence Counseling and Psychological Services

6. CAPS’ Position on Campus Violence (cont.) Not all students with psychological issues are amenable to our services. We respect a student’s “right to choose treatment.” However, students with these issues need to be held to the same code of conduct as “non-mentally disturbed” students. Holding students accountable is therapeutic. Counseling and Psychological Services

7. CAPS’ Position on Campus Violence (cont.) The greater the sense of community that exists on a college campus, and relationships that are formed, the more likely that a student who is exhibiting signs of maladjustment will be recognized by someone on campus. Counseling and Psychological Services

8. CAPS’ Position on Campus Violence (cont.) We advocate for students who may be at a disadvantage due to psychological or disability issues. Although as a group, students with psychological disorders are probably at no greater risk for violence than other students, we recognize that students with certain diagnoses may be at a higher risk to act out aggressively. Counseling and Psychological Services

9. Statistics on CAPS clients and violence over the last 14 years at Florida Tech … No CAPS clients have been involved in campus-related violence or aggression during treatment. Over 100 students have been hospitalized by CAPS, due to danger to self or others. 95% of aggression/threat assessments have been males. “Traditional” male sub groups on campus have been over-represented in mandated assessments, due to aggression/alcohol issues. Counseling and Psychological Services

10. Statistics on CAPS clients and violence over the last 14 years at Florida Tech (cont)… Many students who were perceived as a potential threat to our campus were pre-psychotic, psychotic, paranoid or markedly delusional. Although alcohol/drug use were occasional contributing factors, more severe psychological disorders were also evident, such as Bipolar, Schizophrenia, or Paranoid Disorders. Counseling and Psychological Services

11. VA Tech Shooter: 33 Dead, 2007 Cho was accurately perceived as “psychologically challenged” by many, with a reluctance by the institution to discipline or prosecute his inappropriate behaviors including stalking, fire setting, and threatening behavior in the classroom. Counseling and Psychological Services

12. Murder-Suicide Arizona Nursing College, 2002 TUCSON, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- Nursing student Robert Flores apparently was feared by faculty members at the University of Arizona for several weeks before he shot three professors followed by suicide. He was apparently suicidal due to mounting personal and academic problems. Counseling and Psychological Services

13. Findings from Safe School Initiative (2002) – Secret Service & Department of Education Incidents of targeted violence at schools are rarely sudden, impulsive acts. There is no accurate or useful “profile” of students who engage in targeted school violence. There is, however, a clear “profile” of a student in distress Despite prompt law enforcement responses, most shootings were stopped by means other than law enforcement interventions. Counseling and Psychological Services

14. Findings from Safe School Initiative (2002) (cont) Most attackers were known to have difficulty coping with significant losses or personal failures (98%). Many had considered or attempted suicide (78%). Many wrote material with suicidal & homicidal content. Many felt bullied, persecuted, or injured by others prior to the attack (71%). Most attackers had access to, and had used weapons prior to the attack. Counseling and Psychological Services

15. The FBI & Secret Service have conducted extensive research on school violence and the overwhelming evidence supported the following primary initiatives… Counseling and Psychological Services

16. No Top Secret Weapons !!! Provide a positive interaction between a student “who poses a risk” and faculty, staff, and other students. Each school should assess the “Emotional Climate,” and modify or enrich the climate to be consistent with a socially and emotionally engaging learning community. Counseling and Psychological Services

17. How does our campus rate in these areas? Several years of data collected from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) suggests that our students feel less emotionally and socially engaged than students at comparable institutions. (Samples consist of randomly selected freshman and seniors at Florida Tech) Bottom Line: If we create more programs to address these areas, it will benefit us in reducing violence risk AND increasing retention, which has been on a downward trend the past two years. Counseling and Psychological Services

18. Cautionary Notes: A “fear factor” exists for many university employees following college shootings resulting in a distancing from students who fall on the spectrum of “odd, eccentric, or detached.” There will be a lot of “false positives” if we eliminate all students who deviate from the norm. CAPS retention data from a 1998 cohort evidenced a 5 year graduation rate of 86% of CAPS clients. Florida Tech’s freshman class of two years ago (2006) had an overall retention rate of 74% and those who did receive services at CAPS that year (142 freshman), had a 97% retention rate. We will drive mental health issues underground if universities “over react.” Counseling and Psychological Services

19. Faculty and Staff as Helping Resources • Forming relationships with students has many effects: • Students will turn to you for help. • You will be in a position to assist students before problems escalate. • Students are more likely to succeed academically. Counseling and Psychological Services

20. Additional Steps to Reduce the Risk of Violence on Campus: • Proactive engagement with a high risk or troubled student. • Sufficient and adequately trained staff to: • Conduct threat assessments on students of concern • Provide services to students willing to participate in mental health treatment • Engage in “case management” activities of those students not involved in support services Counseling and Psychological Services

21. Additional Steps to Reduce the Risk of Violence on Campus (cont): • Parent involvement to assist a student who is experiencing significant difficulties, generally w/permission, may be more beneficial than harmful. • Stringent criteria to return following a “mental health” leave of absence is needed. • Suicide Prevention Programs are necessary - Suicide is over 100 times more likely to occur on a college campus than homicide. Counseling and Psychological Services

22. Levels of Concern • Disruptive→ → → → → → → → Threatening Inattentive—Interrupting—Insulting—Harassing—Aggressive—Threat to self/others • Distressed→ → → → → → → →Threatening Absent—Tearful—Upset—Unkempt—Erratic—Irrational—Threat to self/others Counseling and Psychological Services

23. Level of Concern (x) Level of Intervention • Low Concern → → → → → High Concern Talk to Student Consult Department & Colleagues Consult Dean of Students & CAPS Consult SOC Committee Refer & Report Concern Call Campus Security Counseling and Psychological Services

24. Indicators That May Suggest Significant Emotional Difficulties • Low attendance, school interest, and poor academic performance • Inability to concentrate and communicate thoughts clearly • Emotions inappropriate to content of discussion • Poor hygiene/appearance • Social withdrawal, feelings of isolation or rejection Counseling and Psychological Services

25. Behavioral & Emotional Signs That May Suggest Violence Potential • Internal • Fascination w/violence or weapons • Feelings of being picked on, persecuted, or paranoia • Intolerance for differences and prejudiced attitudes • History of victimization • External • Past/Present patterns of violent and aggressive behavior • Alcohol or substance abuse • History of discipline problems Counseling and Psychological Services

26. Imminent Warning Signs … • Deeply rooted cynicism • Unexplained bouts of rage • Serious threats of violence • Threats of suicide or “detailed threats of lethal violence” • Inappropriate access to, possession of, and use of firearms Counseling and Psychological Services

27. Preventive Programs to Address Psychological Needs at Florida Tech • Faculty & Staff Education (including RA’s, GSA’s) • “Beyond the Classroom” • Safety Forums/Trainings • Disaster Response Trainings/Website Links • Student led initiatives, such as “Active Minds” • Student of Concern Committee • Anonymous online student of concern form Counseling and Psychological Services

28. Other Programs to Address Psychological Needs at Florida Tech • In addition to our own Disaster Response Team, Florida Consortium of Counseling Center Directors have an agreement to share professional resources • Strong relationship with local physical & mental health agencies, such as Circles of Care, Health First, Devereux, and Wuesthoff Counseling and Psychological Services

29. CAPS Services • Counseling/Assessment Services • Psychiatric Services • Crisis Intervention (including 24-Hour Emergency On-Call staff) • Outreach/Consultation Services • All Services are CONFIDENTIAL • All Services are FREE, w/exception of psychiatrist and LD/ADHD evaluations Counseling and Psychological Services

30. How to Contact CAPS • Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) • Phone: (321) 674-8050 • Email: caps@fit.edu • Website: www.fit.edu/caps • Location: Corner of Country Club Rd. & University Blvd. (beside the Health Center) Counseling and Psychological Services

31. How to Contact Us • Dr. James Oelschlager • Director/Licensed Psychologist • joelschl@fit.edu • Dr. Robyn Coombs • Assistant Director/Licensed Psychologist • rcoombs@fit.edu Counseling and Psychological Services