• Ask what is wrong. Have a conversation, name the signs that are worrying you and express your concerns. By talking openly and asking questions, you can assess the seriousness of the problem together. This question can be a good conversation starter: “I noticed that you have not been yourself lately. Is that right? I’m a bit worried.”
• Listen and don’t interrupt the student. Let the student talk, be understanding and do not judge. You don’t have to give advice or offer solutions right away. If you don’t know what to say, just say so. That can also start a conversation.
• Convince them to seek help. You’re not a professional, you don’t have to fix the problem yourself. Talk and motivate the student to seek help. Encourage them to contact the student counselling services at the college or university. If the threshold is too high, you can suggest making the appointment together or join them for the first appointment. Perhaps together with you, they will be able to overcome this hurdle.

• It will pass. Don’t worry about it.
• It could have been much worse.
• I know exactly how you feel.
• Just don’t think about it anymore.
• You’re just imagining it all.

• Protect your boundaries. Emotional problems can weigh heavily on you. So take care of your own carrying capacity. Make some quality time for yourself and don’t neglect your other students and the people around you.
• Is it too much to handle? Some problems are too big for you to bear alone. Don’t neglect yourself to help others. Supporting students is the core task of the student counselling services.

Do you, as a staff member, want to strengthen your knowledge and skills in recognising the signs of emotional problems?

Do you want to gain more confidence in supporting your students, often in little things? Since you come into contact with students a lot, you can follow a training course to become a gatekeeper. You will learn to notice the signs of emotional problems, to filter them, and to steer students in the right direction.

• Many colleges and universities offer gatekeeper training courses for staff members. Check what your student counselling services have to offer.
• You can also learn a lot about mental health and emotional problems on MoodSpace.
• The Red Cross offers a course in First Aid for Psychological Problems (abbreviated as EHBP in Dutch). This course focuses on giving first aid to people who are experiencing psychological problems.

Because we are all gatekeepers.