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Accessing Triton CORE

While Triton CORE currently is only able to serve students who are physically on campus, many people can access Triton CORE on their behalf.

You

Have you been feeling not yourself lately? Have you ever felt as if life wasn't worth living? Have you been wishing you could just disappear? Have you had any problems with your sleep or appetite? Have you had any fears that seem strange or out of the ordinary? Have you been feeling numb or disconnected from your world?
  • Triton CORE is a team of mental health professionals who are trained to support people in crisis, to partner with you and to find ways to access support. 
  • We will come to where you are and work with you on site and support you in the distress that you are experiencing. We will also work with you to create a safety plan for the future.
  • If you aren’t sure if your experience rises to the level of a CORE response you can always call the crisis counseling line and go from there!
  • If you don’t feel safe alone or where you are, we encourage you to find a space you feel the most comfortable, ask a friend, neighbor or RA to spend time with you, and distance yourself from any objects that might be causing you distress. Please note that we will problem solve with you in the moment to create a private and confidential space so that we can discuss your distress and needs.

Fellow Students / Friends

Worried about a friend, partner or fellow student? Has someone in your inner circle been struggling? Do you want to help, but maybe you don’t know how?  

Many students experience emotional distress and don’t talk about it.  Friends are often the first person a student turns to when things get tough. Listening, asking how things are and if there is anything you can do can be a huge help. A few tips for supporting a friend or peer:

  • Don’t take it personally. Your friend might be more distant or cranky than usual. Try to avoid thinking that something you have done has caused this change.
  • Ask if something is wrong or doesn’t feel right. 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 your friend. Let them 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.
  • Encourage them to seek help. Stay true to your role, remember that you are a friend and not a professional. You don’t have to fix the problem, but it can help to motivate your friend to seek help. Ask your friend “Would it be okay if I call for help? Will you come with me to get help?” 
  • Keep in touch and do things together. Try to be there for your friend. Regularly ask how things are going. Send a message and let them know you are thinking about them. Take the initiative to do something fun together.
  • Take care of yourself. Supporting someone in crisis can be overwhelming. Make sure to take time for yourself, continue to interact with your other friends, take time for yourself, and seek out support if you need it. It can also be helpful to create a support network for the person in crisis sharing the caregiving role across multiple people.

Parents/ Family / Other Support People

Have you been worried about your child or loved one lately? Have you noticed changes that worry you?
  • Don’t be afraid to have a conversation with your child/ loved one about mental health. Ask your child how they’re doing, what’s happening in their world these days, and what their concerns are. It can start simply by asking, “Are you okay?”
  • Listen intently and without judgment. Ask open-ended questions, (questions that cannot be answered with a simple yes or no). Resist the urge to offer quick fixes or solutions to their challenges, which tends to shut down further conversation. Validate and support their feelings.
  • Follow their cues, and say things like, “Tell me more about that. I’d love to understand more about what that’s like for you. When they said that/did that to you, how did that make you feel?”
  • Offer to help them access support, “Can I help by calling for a team of mental health professionals to meet you where you are? Can I take you to go see someone or send other support?”

Faculty / Staff

Is someone in your classroom, program or lab experiencing a behavioral health crisis? 

Openly acknowledging to students that you are aware of their distress, that you are sincerely concerned about their welfare, and that you are willing to help them explore their alternatives, can have a profound effect. We encourage you to speak directly and honestly to students whenever you sense that they are experiencing academic or personal distress.

  1. Request to see the student in private. A private conversation will minimize a student’s self-consciousness, embarrassment, and defensiveness.
  2. Briefly acknowledge your observations and perceptions of the situation, expressing your concerns directly and honestly.
  3. Listen carefully to what is troubling the student. Try to understand their concern from their point of view, without necessarily agreeing or disagreeing.
  4. Comment directly on what you have observed, without judging or interpreting. Attempt to gain understanding of what the student is experiencing.
  5. Offer to call for help or take the student to access support.
  6. Involve yourself only as far as you feel comfortable.  Remember, you are not expected to be a mental health expert!