Dear COEHD Faculty and Staff,

Since this tragic news has become available, you might find yourself in a position to support students or additional campus community members. Wellness 360’s counseling staff and the Employee Assistance Program can help. 

Wellness 360 provides in-person counseling at the Recreation Wellness Center (RWC 1.500) during campus business hours and (210) 458-4142. Also, 24/7 telephone emergency crisis counseling is available for students’ needs through TimelyCare by calling the Crisis Helpline at 210-458-4140. Please share the PowerPoint slides with your students.

Let me emphasize again the importance to acknowledging the event and promoting positive habits for managing mental health and stress. Here are some tips when talking with students and colleagues: 

• Acknowledge the tragedy. Say something like, “I know what happened might be on your mind now.” 
• Allow students or your colleagues to share their concerns. You might say, “You may be experiencing a wide range of feelings and emotions right now. If you’d like to share those, feel welcome to do so.” 
• Realize that it is common to see a variety of reactions, including being unable to focus or concentrate, feeling frustrated, angry, guilty, remorseful, or numb. 
• Share applicable resources such as counseling, EAP, support groups, etc.
• If applicable check-in on individuals with known risk factors, such as health or mental health conditions, other recent losses, closest friends.
• Acknowledge all information and answers may not become available.
• Encourage grief processes that are best fit for individual/group, such as prayer, fundraising, letter writing, advocacy, other support, celebrations, etc.

Please let us know how we can be of assistance.

Mario Torres, Dean, COEHD (mario.torres@utsa.edu)

Emily Bonner, Associate Dean, Research and Faculty Success (emily.bonner@utsa.edu)

Heather Trepal, Associate Dean, Academic Programs and Student Success (heather.trepal@utsa.edu)

Kristen Lindahl, Associate Dean, Strategic Partnerships, Preparation and Growth (Kristen.lindahl@utsa.edu)

Leslie Neely, Assistant Dean, Transdisciplinary Research (Leslie.neely@utsa.edu)

-- 

Mario Torres, Ph.D. 

Dean, College of Education and Human Development

President's Distinguished Professorship

The University of Texas at San Antonio

One UTSA Circle, Main Building 3.304

San Antonio, TX 78249

Office: 210.458.5200

Fax:     210.458.4487

Mario.Torres2@utsa.edu