Faculty, Staff and GSI Resources for Students Under Stress

November 21, 2019

 Division of Student Affairs

Dear Faculty, Staff, and Graduate Student Instructors,

We hope the end of your fall semester is going well. As you know, this time of the semester can bring increased stress to students. With final deadlines for papers approaching and final exams about to begin, students may be displaying signs of distress. And in light of the recent power outages and wildfires that may add to an already stressful time for many, we wanted to remind you of resources available to help you if you encounter a student who is struggling emotionally. 

The University of California has a full-text handbook for faculty and staff entitled Promoting Student Mental Health: A Guide for UC Faculty and StaffThis handbook provides in-depth information about mental health and examines the role that faculty and staff members can play in providing a supportive academic environment and assisting students who may be in distress.

We encourage each of you to download the full-text guide, as well as the separate UC Berkeley-specific resource insertIn addition, the Center for Support and Intervention (CSI) and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) have updated the Gold Folder, a safety protocol you’ve likely become acquainted with. 

If you have a student who you are concerned about and need assistance in guiding the student to the appropriate resources, please submit a care report: https://berkeley-advocate.symplicity.com/care_report/

Additional information about depression from the Look for the Signs Campaign: http://uhs.berkeley.edu/lookforthesigns 

Lastly, we offer a special message of support for GSIs who, in addition to instructing undergraduate students, are students themselves. Please make sure you are taking care of yourselves at this time in the semester. 

  • Visit recalibrate for wellness information and resources targeted at the entire campus community. 

  • See the CAPS graduate student resource guide (PDF): https://uhs.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/cps_gradstudents.pdf

  • The Graduate Wellness Center, located in 444 Eshleman Hall, is a satellite office for Counseling and Psychological Services and the Disabled Students Program. The Wellness Center provides graduate-focused wellness and mental health services, including individual, couples, and group counseling, DSP accommodations and services, and workshops specific to graduate students. Make an appointment, or view the center's drop-in hours on the Graduate Assembly's Graduate Wellness Center webpage.

Sincerely,
Stephen C. Sutton, Ed.D., Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
Lisa García Bedolla, Ph.D., Vice Provost for Graduate Studies and Dean of the Graduate Division
Guy W. Nicolette, MD, CAQSM, Assistant Vice Chancellor, University Health Services
Eugene Whitlock, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer

This message was sent to all campus faculty, staff, and graduate student instructors.

If you are a manager who supervises UC Berkeley employees without email access, please circulate this information to all.

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