Ministry to Hurting People

CSU Counseling Services

Glenda K. Hill Nanna, MA/LPCDirector of Counseling Services

Questions…

o What do you have to offer to the people that you encounter as you minister?

o Do you understand your limits?o Are you comfortable referring a person

for pastoral or professional help?

o Do you feel comfortable asking for help when you need it?

What you can offer…

o Compassiono Listeningo Non- Judgmental Attitudeo Christ’s love

o Biblical Example: Jesus with the woman at the well

LIFE IS STRESSFUL!!!!!!!!!!

Student Stressors

Isolation and loneliness

Break-up of an intimate relationship

Unplanned pregnancy

Sexual or physical abuse or assault

Student Stressors

Family conflict or parental divorce

Death of a loved one

Serious illness

Academic pressure or failure

Statistics

Average class of 25 college students with equal numbers of

men/women:

8 will have divorced parents 3 will have a substance abuse problem 4 will have a substance-abusing parent 4 women will be rape or sexual abuse

victims 2 women will have an eating disorder 1 male will be a victim of sexual abuse 1 woman will have an unwanted pregnancy

Knowing your Limits…

o You are not a doctor.o You are not a therapist.o You are not Jesus.o You are not responsible for the

choices that others make… even if they would like for you to think that you are.

Referrals…

o Refer to the right person.o Refer in the right way.o Refer at the right time.

Do you have days when you feel like this…

What about you….

o Do you feel comfortable asking for help when you need it?

o Do you know where to get help?o New Vision leadero Campus Ministero Counseling Staff

Counseling Staff

Director of Counseling ServicesGlenda K. Hill Nanna, MA/LPC 863-7194 gnanna@csuniv.edu

Post-Doctoral Supervisee (Part-time)Dr. Jill Ilagan, PsyD. 863-8010 jilagan@csuniv.edu

Ms. Anna Flores, Intern (Part-time)Master’s Program, Webster

University,

Counseling Staff

Part-time StaffMs. Barbara Mead, M.Ed., LPC863-8008/ 8009

Mr. Jay White, MA, LPC863-8010

Dolphin Stress Test This is a quick, simple test to identify

whether your stress level is in the acceptable range.

You should see two identical dolphins, if you notice anything other than slight color differences, then your stress level is too high and you need some stress management training.

Dolphin Stress Test

CuttingSex /Pregnancy

Abuse Suicide

Some Counseling Concerns

People who self-mutilate may cut or bite or scratch or pull out their hair. It is thought to be a stress reaction or poor coping skill and may have some addictive component.They generally are not suicidal, but they do cause injury and can accidentally die.

General Guidelines: Cutting

Refer to Crisis Pregnancy Center or PAR (People against Rape).

Encourage the young person to talk to their parents about the situation.

General Guidelines: Sex/ Pregnancy

Counselors are mandated to report all cases of suspected child and/or elder abuse.Churches have been held liable for not protecting children.You do not want to hold that information.

General Guidelines: Abuse

General Guidelines: Suicide

Let’s look at some facts about suicide and how you can help!

Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death on university

campuses!

(Accidents are #1).

SUICIDE FACTS

Are the following statements

True or False?

MYTHBUSTERS

Let’s Play….

People who talk about or threaten suicide rarely

commit suicide.

FALSE

People who are thinking about hurting themselves

often times make statements or threats about

suicide.

Approximately one young person under the age of 25 dies from suicide every 117

minutes in the U.S.

TRUE

By the time you enjoy a football game or see a

movie a young person is lost to the tragedy of suicide.

Talking to a person about his or her suicidal feelings may

cause them to commit suicide.

FALSE

Talking to a person about these feelings can only

help if done in a compassionate and

knowledgeable manner.

People who are contemplating suicide

almost always indicate their intentions to someone

beforehand.

TRUE

In almost 70% of suicides, the person shared his/her

thoughts or intentions with a friend, teacher, or other important person in their

life before making a suicide attempt.

ONE MILLION youth attempted suicide in the year

2000.

That averages to 112 attempts each minute!

SUICIDE FACTS

Over 100 young people successfully complete

suicide each week in the U. S.

SUICIDE FACTS

Over 5,000 young people die from suicide

each year.

SUICIDE FACTS

White males make up the majority of completed suicides.

SUICIDE FACTS

Suicide rates among Black youths in the South has

increased by 214% between 1980-1995.

SUICIDE FACTS

Approximately 1088 college students per year

(which is 1/2 the rate of non students).

SUICIDE FACTS

Factors that can heighten the risk of suicidal ideation

Low self-esteem Depression Changes in school or social status Students who have been or are being

abused, molested, or neglected Abusers of drugs or alcohol Perfectionists Gay and Lesbian students Learning disabled students Loners

How do I help?

LIFE

L– Listen to your friend without judgment and without minimizing their pain.

I – Insist on Honesty. If they have formulated a plan then they are in serious trouble and immediate help is needed.

How do I help?

LIFE F – Feelings, share them. Share your

feelings with your friend as well. (i.e. scared, worried, sad if they were to die…).

E – Extend a Helping Hand. Go with your friend to get help. Never promise not to tell.

Things to avoid:

Do not ignore the warning signs Do not refuse to talk about suicide Don’t promise to maintain

confidentiality; treat a student’s disclosure as a statement of needing help.

Things to avoid:

Do not react with disapproval or repulsion

Do not offer false reassurances like “Everything will be all right” or comments like “you have a great life and you should be thankful for…”

Do not abandon your friend after you get help.

How Therapists Assess Risk

Does the student have a plan? Does the student have the means? Does the student have the intent? Does the student know anyone who

has completed suicide?IF THE ANSWER IS “YES” TO ANY OF THE ABOVE,

STUDENT IS AT HIGHER RISK.

Referrals for Counseling:

Have a Humble Attitude

Ask Good Questions

Express Concern

Give Hope

Respect their right to confidentiality.

What if the person refuses help?

Except in emergencies, the option must be left open for the student to accept or refuse counseling.

What if it is an emergency?

A situation in which someone’s life is in immediate danger (i.e. risk of violence or threat of suicide).

Notify your ministry leader so that he/she can notify the site leadership and they can take appropriate action and notify authorities if so warranted.

Counseling Services

Most churches have some sort of pastoral counseling ministry.

Most areas have community mental health centers that offer reduced cost services.

Focus on the Family maintains a list of Christian counselors and offers a one-time counseling phone call at no charge at 1-800- A FAMILY.

Counseling Information

Additional information and resources are available on the Counseling Services Web Page at www.csuniv.edu/counseling

Body Image Week

You can win a FREE IPOD!Go online and register at

www.csuniv.edu/counseling. Attend Shrek on Tuesday night

at 7pm in the Brewer Center Lounge

Attend a Body Image Student Forum Thursday night at 6pm in the Nursing Auditorium.

National Alcohol Screening

Thursday April 12, 2007 MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW!

National Alcohol Screening

A Passage to Consider:

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12Two are better than one…If one falls down, his friend can help him up,But pity the man who falls and has no one tohelp him up!

Though one may be overpowered, two candefend themselves. A cord of three strands isnot quickly broken.