High-Risk Behavior
Definition: Behaviors that threaten to harm self or others, psychosis, or becoming extremely withdrawn or depressed. These are severe mental health issues that often constitute urgent or emergent situations.
Examples:
- Suicidal or homicidal statements (particularly those that indicate a specific plan and/or access to means)
- Making threats of physical violence
- Delusional thinking – paranoia, unjustified belief that others are watching them or persecuting them
- Experiencing hallucinations, disorientation – hearing voices, unable to tell what is real
- Indications of a drug overdose
- Cutting or other self-injurious behavior
- Stalking
- Reports of sexual assault
- Carrying a firearm or other weapon to class
Strategies:
- Safety first – report to your supervisor, the student’s advisor, and the MSU CAIT
- If emergent or imminent risk, call 9-1-1
- If not an emergency, call MSU Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS) to schedule an appointment at (517) 355-8270
- For same-day consultation, ask for for the CAPS “daily lead’ clinician at (517) 355-8270
- Report to Care and Intervention Team (CAIT) online
Resources: