North Carolina State University is committed to providing a safe and secure campus environment for all members of the university community. NC State strives to create an educational environment for students and a work environment for employees that promote educational and career goals. Each member of the NC State community has the responsibility to understand, prevent and respond appropriately to campus/workplace violence.
In order to achieve this commitment, NC State has established the Environmental Health & Public Safety Division of Risk Assessment.
Risk Assessment Case Manager
The role of the risk assessment case manager is to provide guidance and direction in order to meet the division goals in a diverse and constantly fluent university community.
The Risk Assessment Case team provides:
- Central contact for violence concerns and reporting
- Consultation services to campus personnel regarding concerning behavior
- Education and support to ensure that students and/or staff are linked with services and resources that are appropriate to meet their individual needs and concerns
- Coordination for customized training upon request
Threat Assessment Response Team
A Threat Assessment Response Team is comprised of the Risk Assessment Case Manager and appointed members from identified specialties based upon the specific situation. This ensures a seamless and effective approach to respond to potentially violent situations. The teams meet regularly to review specific situations and ensure appropriate follow up is provided.
Professional Associations:If the situation is related to students, the appointed members are drawn from the Office of Student Conduct, Housing, Campus Police, and the Counseling Center.
For workplace violence, the appointed members will include personnel from Human Resources, Office of Legal Affairs, Campus Police, and Employee Assistance.
Specific Response Situations
(This information was adapted from material produced by the Violence Prevention and Response Program at the University of Washington: www.safecampus.washington.edu).
Distress
There are several situations that can cause someone to go into distress. Below is a list of very common situations that may cause someone to become distressed:
- Grief or loss
- A traumatic event or situation
- Problems with alcohol or drugs
- Depression
- Family problems (i.e. Conflicts, family illness, death of a family member, divorce or abuse)
- Financial problems
- Academic or work difficulties
- Adjustment to changes (adjusting to a new place, new people, and/or a new life situation)
- Over commitment
- Performance anxiety
Signs of Distress
There are several signs that individuals exhibit prior to a violent act that show they are not coping well. Sometimes, being familiar with some of these signs can alert you to a problem so that it can be addressed right away before the situation escalates.
Here is a list of some signs and symptoms of distress that should raise concerns about the potential for an individual to engage in violent behavior. These behaviors may be reported to you by colleagues, other students, faculty/staff or others. If violent behavior does occur it may be self directed or directed towards others so it’s important to familiarize yourself with this list:
- Significant changes in eating, sleeping, grooming, spending or other daily activities.
- Significant changes in performance or involvement in academics, sports, work, extracurricular or social activities.
- Acting significantly withdrawn, volatile, tearful, or odd.
- Acting out of character, differently than usual.
- Talking explicitly about hopelessness or suicide.
- Difficulty concentrating
- Difficulty carrying on normal conversation.
- Excessive dependence on others for support.
- Feeling out of control of one’s emotions, thoughts, or behaviors.
How can you help?
Let the student/staff know why you are concerned about them in terms of their own worries or needs. Discuss with Risk Assessment Case Manager possible resources to meet the needs of the individual.
If in need of mental health services, for a student, offer to keep them company while they call for an appointment, or offer to call on the behalf of the student while they are sitting with you.
Follow up with the student. Check in to see how their appointment went or see how they are doing since the last time you saw them.
If you are concerned about the individual and think that they may be suicidal: ASK!
Warning Signs Preceding Violence
There is no 100% proven method of predicting when someone may become violent. It is important to be aware of this when attempts are made. It is also important to consider the context of the warning signs, such as tone of voice and your level of familiarity with the person that may be making those troubling statements. Listed below are some indicators/signs that may warrant closer attention and possibly intervention.
- Making threats of suicide or statements about hurting one’s self
- Making threats of violence, directly or implied
- Expressing fascination with firearms or asserting ownership of firearms
- Having a known history of violence or behavior obviously insensitive to others
- Preoccupation with television, music, and/or stories about violence
- Identify with criminal or terrorist individuals, acts and/or philosophy
- Making references and maintain preoccupation with other incidents of publicized violence (collecting articles or photos, showing fascination with perpetrators of these events, etc.)
- Intimidating others, frequently confrontational
- Crossing boundaries (e.g., excessive phone calls or emails, impromptu visits, inappropriate gifts)
- Being easily provoked, showing sudden or erratic agitation with others
- Blaming others for things that go wrong and has no sense of personal responsibility
- Marked academic (or job) performance decline
- Demonstrate notable changes in personality, mood, or behavior
- Give away personal possessions
- Shows noticeable decline in personal hygiene
- Substance abuse
- Legal Problems
- Financial problems
- Family or relationship conflicts
If there is concern about a student or an employee please contact the Risk Assessment Case Manager at
513-4224.
If it is an emergency please contact 911
Reporting Concerns and/or Incidents
Reporting is the most critical component for effective prevention and response to violence. It is imperative that every member of the campus community proactively report situations that have a perceived potential of violence. The only way to accurately evaluate and respond appropriately to a situation is to receive a report.
Immediate Threats
Step 1: Call 911
Step 2: Once safe, call the Risk Assessment Case Manager at 919-513-4224
Step 3: Report the situation to your supervisor or the head of your unit.
Potential or Suspected Threats
Step 1: Call 919-513-4224 to report the situation to the Risk Assessment Case Manager
Step 2: Report the situation to your supervisor or the head of your unit.
Resources
Student Conduct
Campus Police RBI
NC State Counseling Center
NC State Women’s Center
WolfAlert/Emergency Information
Disruptive & Distressed Individuals
Outside Resources
The Duluth Power and Control Wheel
Deer Oaks Assistance Program
Training
If your department, organization, or work group are interested in training to learn:
- What North Carolina State University is doing to help prevent violence
- How to identify and report behaviors which might lead to violence
- How to respond during a violent incident
Please contact the Risk Assessment Case Manager to schedule.
If you are interested in additional specific training, please contact the Risk Assessment Case Manager to schedule. Training can be developed to meet the needs of your organization.
- Workplace Violence
- Conflict Resolution
- Suicide Awareness and Prevention
University Police provides additional training including the Active Shooter video that addresses responding to an active shooter situation. Please contact Officer Steve Carlton for assistance.
