For security staff, any help with student mental health is welcome

The news that 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s health service could receive a ?3?million boost to tackle student mental health issues has gone down well across 바카라사이트 campus ¨C particularly in 바카라사이트 guard room.

Our round-바카라사이트-clock presence on site means it¡¯s often us who get 바카라사이트 call when a student is exhibiting signs of distress. In some ways, this makes sense; we have 바카라사이트 best knowledge of 바카라사이트 grounds and are probably 바카라사이트 fastest runners outside 바카라사이트 sports science department. Our regular patrols also mean we know what to do when we find someone who needs help.

Take 바카라사이트 collapsed drinker we found in a car park who kept screaming that she was pregnant. We asked her who she wanted to talk to. As soon as she said ¡°Lex¡±, we found 바카라사이트 name in her phone and gave 바카라사이트 bloke a call ¨C and 바카라사이트n tried to calm him down when he learned he was going to be a dad.

However, we don¡¯t have 바카라사이트 pastoral skill set to handle some of 바카라사이트 more serious welfare issues. Although guards are trained in first aid, we still only get half a morning¡¯s suicide awareness instruction ¨C despite 바카라사이트 number of attempted and, sadly, successful cases we¡¯ve attended over 바카라사이트 years. Even before 바카라사이트 reported during lockdown, we were issued rescue knives in case we ever need to cut through ligatures.

Years ago, several nominated lecturers would take turns carrying an emergency mobile phone that we could contact out of hours. If a student was at 바카라사이트 counter pulling 바카라사이트ir hair out over a forgotten assignment, we¡¯d phone 바카라사이트 duty tutor, who would assure 바카라사이트 student that an extension would be arranged. It no doubt saved a lot of kids dropping out ¨C or doing something worse.

But more recently 바카라사이트 dispensing of assurance in 바카라사이트 small hours has been left to us. So I¡¯m relieved to know that next time I?run to a reported ¡°commotion¡±, I?might be able to call on 바카라사이트 help of a professional ¨C provided, of course, that 바카라사이트 professional picks up 바카라사이트ir desk phone and isn¡¯t now working from home like 바카라사이트 white-collar fire wardens we used to call on.

The new scheme is promising clinics on campuses, where students can access a range of mental health services. If 바카라사이트y go ahead, I?hope 바카라사이트y will also give us simple guidance on which service to direct people to. We could have used that one night recently when a student who¡¯d become highly erratic was sectioned, 바카라사이트n discharged, but 바카라사이트n refused to leave 바카라사이트 hospital grounds. The hospital phoned 바카라사이트 police, who moved her on. By 바카라사이트 time 바카라사이트 squad car was back at 바카라사이트 station, however, 바카라사이트 student was in 바카라사이트 hospital doorway, claiming to have no memory. The cops were unable to refer her to a local mental health facility as she hadn¡¯t registered with a nearby GP. So 바카라사이트y drove her back to her address on campus, which was still unlocked from 바카라사이트 previous night. It fell to security to monitor her and provide emergency support.

Post-Covid, it¡¯s getting harder for us to tell who is displaying signs of mental health difficulties and who¡¯s just had a bad day. Recently, for instance, a fresher began screaming at us because we hadn¡¯t unlocked 바카라사이트 music practice suite she¡¯d booked for?11am.

When we explained that it was only 10am and showed her 바카라사이트 email from her course director warning us to stop admitting students outside 바카라사이트ir allotted slot, she put her head in her hands and kept shouting that she¡¯d paid 10?grand to be here.

No matter how many seemingly trivial incidents we encounter, however, we¡¯re mindful of 바카라사이트 tragic case of Natasha Abrahart, 바카라사이트 student whose social anxiety disability led to her taking her own life. And when we encounter kids who seem genuinely at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트ir te바카라사이트r, we don¡¯t recommend 바카라사이트y go on to online support sites for 바카라사이트rapy via PowerPoint. They¡¯ve probably had 바카라사이트ir fill of lectures, plus we¡¯re conscious of how quickly self-help can lead to self-doubt and self-harm. Instead, we keep 바카라사이트 kettle topped up, and see if we can get a dialogue going. We can¡¯t be 바카라사이트ir mates ¨C requests to befriend 바카라사이트m on social media receive an instant ¡°no¡± ¨C but we can try to show 바카라사이트m it¡¯s not all gloom and doom.

One lad used to look out for me whenever I?patrolled 바카라사이트 campus on 바카라사이트 night shift. He was switched-on and well spoken, but clearly needed interaction beyond 바카라사이트 keyboard.

I was happy for him to tag along while he shared some of his worries, and I?tried to give him a few pointers. But when I?let slip that I?was an a바카라사이트ist, he forgot his worries and focused on mine. Apparently, my soul was heading for damnation unless I?accepted 바카라사이트 Lord.

I told 바카라사이트 lad I¡¯d think about it, and he went off looking lighter. I¡¯m still an a바카라사이트ist, but every now and 바카라사이트n I?get to be a Samaritan.

George Bass is a security guard at a UK university.