Dear Fellow Coog,

Our campus community is going through a difficult time. We don’t have all of the answers but we are working to address the challenges of coping with the tragic on-campus deaths of two of our students. We are taking a number of deliberate steps to comfort and support our students, faculty and staff.

We know that these are particularly difficult times in which to lead. In order to support you as a manager, supervisor or leader on your team, we offer suggestions that may help you respond to your employees, students or other UH community members who seek your guidance following the traumatic loss of life we’ve recently experienced.

• Encourage your team to take the time for self-care in a mindful way. Interacting with your employees in a compassionate and understanding way will reduce their stress response and prevent increased anxiety.
• Stay connected. Ask your team members “How are you?” and listen. Don't be afraid to set a positive example by sharing your own reactions.
• Have compassion; understand every person is unique. We all have our own life experiences. Have compassion for others and expect that people will be affected and react differently to traumatic events. Be sensitive to those differences.
• Encourage our community members to take advantage of the free and confidential resources available to them. If you are concerned about a member of our community or are uncertain or uncomfortable at any point, please consult CAPS at 713-743-5454.
• Follow the advice you gave employees, colleagues or students. Take a few deep breaths on a regular basis to reduce the effect of stress on your body and mind. Choose healthy and positive ways to manage your own stress response.
• Accommodations: If an employee is requesting a workplace accommodation, it can be evaluated through Equal Opportunity Services. (academic accommodations are evaluated through Justin Dart Jr. Student Accessibility Center).
• Self-Care: And remember, you cannot help support others unless you are taking care of yourself.

Know the behaviors of a person who may be struggling:

• Marked changes in performance
• Poor attendance at work
• Changes in emotional states (sadness; crying; lethargy; irritability; rapid speech; preoccupation; increased and more intense disagreement with peers, instructor or manager; sense of confusion)
• Changes in physical well-being (swollen eyes from crying, increased illness, poor self-hygiene, rapid weight loss/gain)
• Repeated requests for special considerations for work duties/assignments
• Behaviors which may interfere with the work or classroom (outbursts of anger, domination of discussion)

Know the behaviors of a person who may need intervention:

• Highly disruptive behavior (verbal hostility, aggression, and failure to comply with corrective feedback)
• Inability to communicate clearly (garbled, pressured speech; disorganized, confused or rambling thoughts)
• Loss of contact with reality (seeing or hearing things which others cannot see or hear; irrational beliefs or fears that others may be conspiring against them)
• Stalking behaviors and inappropriate communications (including threatening letters, e-mail messages; harassment)
• Suicidal thoughts and/or threats to harm others (may be communicated orally or in written formats through e-mail, assignments, or on social network)

Many of you have asked how you can get involved in our collective efforts to address mental health and suicide prevention on campus. Here are few examples of actions you can take:

• Join the JED Campus Initiative
• Complete the QPR suicide prevention training
• Learn more about how to recognize and support students in need

During these difficult times, it is more important than ever to keep communication lines open. If you would like to offer suggestions on how we can continue to strengthen our community, please email CoogsCare@uh.edu.

Respectfully,

Diane Z. Chase
Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
provost@uh.edu

Raymond S. Bartlett
Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance
cfo@central.uh.edu