Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT)
identifying-potential-reports

Identifying Potential Reports

Our Resource

We utilize the National Behavioral Intervention Team Associations' (NaBITA) Threat Assessment Tool as a guide for assessing mental and behavioral health concerns, level of risk, and to determine appropriate interventions. If you witness any of the behaviors listed below, please contact the appropriate office immediately:

Suicidal or Homicidal Thoughts or Impulses

Students expressing the intent to harm themselves or others is a serious situation that requires immediate action. Students may express their signs of distress through written assignments, exams or verbal statements disclosing feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness or helplessness, and feelings of failure and humiliation. Contact Campus Security immediately at 718-960-7777 if a student exhibits this behavior.

Expression of Violent and Aggressive Thoughts

Violent and aggressive impulses can be expressed through verbal threats, threatening e-mails or instant messages, letters, and writing assignments or exams that contain violent or threatening material. Special consideration should be given to repeated, direct and/or specific threats and those that suggest that the student will carry it out. Contact Campus Security immediately at 718-960-7777 if a student exhibits this behavior.

Depression

Depressed students may exhibit withdrawal, poor concentration, poor hygiene, loss of self-esteem, or hopelessness. The student might speak in a low flat monotone, have a vacant stare or seem on the verge of crying. The student might also use writing assignments to reveal personal issues inappropriate to the assignment. Students that have experienced trauma, an overwhelming loss such as a death in the family or change in relationship status (e.g. breakup or divorce) may present with depressive symptoms. Contact the Counseling Center at 718-960-8761 if a student exhibits this behavior.

Severe Disruptive Behavior and/or Agitated Behavior

Exhibiting behavior which is out of character and/or non-compliant (e.g., student appears emotionally volatile, loses his/her temper, cries easily, appears glassy-eyed or uses profane language). Students may become hostile, belligerent, and/or out of control, causing a crisis situation in class. Contact Campus Security at 718-960-7777 if a student needs to be removed from the classroom. Contact Student Affairs at 718-960-8241 if a student requires follow-up intervention.

Disorientation

Students who are disoriented may exhibit an inability to communicate (e.g. garbled or slurred speech, disjointed thoughts) and loss of contact with reality (e.g., seeing or hearing things that are not there, bizarre behavior, expressing beliefs not based in reality). Contact the Counseling Center at 718.960.8761 if a student exhibits this behavior.

Physical and Sexual Abuse, Intimate Partner Violence, and Stalking

Students dealing with violence may exhibit a sudden drop in grades, change in appearance and frequent absences. They may receive multiple phone calls/texts during classes, or/and have someone waiting for them before and after class. If a student describes being followed by a stalker, experiencing violence at home, or in a relationship, or if they appear to have visible injuries, the safety of the student and the campus is at risk. Contact the Public Safety Department at 718-960-7777 if a student exhibits this behavior.

 

Division of Student Affairs