Self-Destructive Behavior
Self-destructive behaviors are high-risk behaviors that would cause a reasonable person concern. Examples of self-destructive behavior include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Cutting/self-mutilation
- Alcohol abuse
- Drug abuse (including use of illegal drugs and misuse of prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, and/or herbal supplements)
- Eating disorders
- Suicidal ideation, threats or gestures of any type
Since it is often difficult to evaluate the seriousness of self-destructive behaviors or threats, it is imperative that the Counseling and Wellness Center be notified of the behavior or threat so that professional evaluation and/or intervention can take place.
In the case of an employee demonstrating signs of self-destructive behavior, you should notify the Office of Human Resources.
Primary Response Team
- Office of Counseling and Wellness Center staff (student incident)
- Office of Human Resources (faculty and staff incident)
- Office of Housing and Residential Life staff
- Office of the Dean of Students staff/ coordinator of campus operations and student services staff
- Office of Campus Security
Secondary Response Team
- Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs (student incident)
- Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (faculty incident)
Objectives
New York Institute of Technology is committed to the health, safety, and emotional well-being of all members of the NYIT community. The intent of this policy is to protect and assist community members experiencing emotional distress and/or engaging in self-destructive behaviors, and to create a safe and healthy living and learning environment on campus.
Notification
If you suspect imminent danger due to self-destructive behavior, call 911. For all other situation where self-destructive behavior is suspected, call the Office of Counseling and Wellness Services when a student is involved and the Office of Human Resources if the concern involves a staff or faculty member.
Procedures
For students engaged in self-destructive behaviors:
- Seek help from a professional counselor through the Counseling and Wellness Center on their campus. (All contact made with the Counseling and Wellness Center will remain confidential, unless there is an immediate threat of harm to you or to others.)
For faculty or staff engaged in self-destructive behavior:
- Seek help from a professional counselor with help from the Office of Human Resources. (All contact made with the Office of Human Resources will remain confidential, unless there is an immediate threat of harm to you or to others.)
- Witnesses or those who suspect others of engaging in self-destructive behavior
- Contact the Counseling and Wellness Center if a student is involved; or the Office of Human Resources if a staff or faculty member is involved.
- If concern arises outside of normal business hours and contact the Office of Campus Security or the director of housing and residential life, if applicable.
For Counseling and Wellness Center staff:
- Reach out to the student in question.
- Evaluate the situation.
- Take an appropriate course of action.
- If deemed necessary, arrange for the student to be transported via ambulance to the appropriate hospital for psychiatric evaluation. (The student may be admitted to the hospital through either a voluntary or involuntary commitment process.)
- If the student is hospitalized, contact the dean of students.
For Office of Campus Security:
- Reach out to the student/employee in question.
- Evaluate the situation.
- Contact the dean of students.
For Dean of Students:
- Consult with the attending mental health professionals, and determine appropriate steps for parental/guardian notification about the hospitalization (and the events leading up to it), with or without the student's permission based on the circumstances. (All costs associated with emergency transportation and hospitalization will be the sole responsibility of the student.)
- Continue to monitor situation.
- After receiving a copy of the hospital's discharge plan (to be provided by the student) and discussing the student's written psychiatric evaluation with the Office of Counseling and Wellness Center staff and the director of housing and residential life, if applicable, determine the appropriateness of the student being allowed to return to classes and to the residential halls.
- If the student is not granted permission to return to the residence halls, contact the student's parents or guardians (or emergency contact) so that they can assume responsibility for care.
- If the student is cleared to return to the residence halls and/or classes, obtain the student's agreement to adhere to all recommendations for aftercare/follow-up treatment as a condition of his return.
- Alert the student that the college reserves the right to require him to undergo a re-evaluation at a later date.
- Alert the student that the college reserves the right to alter the residence hall assignment of any student experiencing emotional distress to protect the student or the safety and well-being of any other member(s) of the community.
For Office of Human Resources:
- Reach out to the employee in question.
- Evaluate the situation.
- Take an appropriate course of action.
- If deemed necessary, arrange for the employee to be transported via ambulance to the appropriate hospital for psychiatric evaluation. (The employee may be admitted to the hospital through either a voluntary or involuntary commitment process.)