Critical Incidents
The Counselling Service is available to see staff and students after they have experienced some form of crisis or critical incident.
Just as no two crises are exactly the same, people vary markedly in the way that they react following an unexpected event in their lives. Some crises are by their very nature unexpected (assaults, sudden deaths), whereas other occur slowly and over an extended period of time, such as the death of a friend or loved one. Similarly, what is a crisis for one person may not be as distressing for another, so it is important to remember that people can and do vary widely in their responses following an incident.
Some events can be completely unrelated to campus life, whereas others may be closely tied in with the university experience. In situations where the incident is related to University life, the Counselling Service may respond according to the University Critical Incident Management Policy.
If the event is particularly distressing, some people involved may benefit from immediate practical assistance. In these instances it can be a good move to contact the Counselling Service without delay. In other circumstances it may be more appropriate to seek contact a couple of days after the event, when the initial impact has worn off and people feel more able to talk about their experience. If in any doubt, contact the Counselling Service and discuss your specific needs.