Page 56 - UNIZULU Disaster Management Plan Report

UNIVERSITY OF ZULULAND
17. MENTAL HEALTH INCIDENT
AFTER HOURS CALL PSD IMMEDIATELY! DIAL 6599
17.1 CRT Procedures
OFFICE HOURS CALL CAMPUS HEALTH EXT 6841
17.1.2. Guidance and Counselling
Upon receiving notification of a mental health incident involving a university student, Guidance and Counselling’s responsibilities are as follows:
1) If situation is ongoing, report to the scene to assist
students and employees and outside agencies as
appropriate.
2) If the student is in hospital, visit him/her and confer
with hospital employees to assess the situation and follow up steps that will be needed once the student is released from hospital.
3) Maintain direct contact with the Dean of Students and Department of Health psychological care employees as necessary.
4) Contact the warden, Registrar and faculty as necessary.
5) Schedule counselling sessions as needed.
6) Initiate a debriefing session within 72 hours of the
incident with students, Dean of Students.
17.1.3. University Employees
Upon encountering a mental health incident involving a university student or employee, affected university employees and students should carry out the following procedures:
17.2 Suicidal and Para-Suicidal Incidents
17.2.1 Critical Response Team Procedures
Upon receiving notification of a mental health incident involving a university student or employee, the Chair of the Management Team has the following responsibilities:
1) If necessary, declare an emergency or disaster and
notify all members of the Management Team.
2) Liaise with the Incident Manager to monitor the
situation and provide assistance as necessary.
3) Liaise with the Dean of Students (w.r.t. students)
or Guidance and Counselling (w.r.t. employees) as necessary.
17.1.1 Protective Services Department
Upon receiving notification of a mental health incident involving a university student or employee, the PSD’s responsibilities are as follows:
1) Immediately dispatch a PSD guard in a vehicle to the
scene (ambulance if needed).
2) If the student or employee is taken to the Campus
Health Services, the Guidance and Counselling psychologists or Employee Wellness will attend to the student or employee and conduct an assessment to determine the most appropriate intervention.
3) The student or employee may agree to a voluntary admission to a psychiatric hospital. If a voluntary admission is appropriate and a bed is arranged, the PSD or ambulance should transport the student or employee to the hospital. However,
if the student or employee requires psychiatric treatment but is unable or unwilling to consent to treatment or is likely to abscond, an application for assisted or involuntary admission should be made through the Campus Health Services or Guidance and Counselling. The Guidance and Counselling psychologists should facilitate this process.
4) Coordinate the information disseminated to local law enforcement at the scene (if applicable).
5) The Director: PSD should contact the Incident Manager and Chair of the CRT to activate the Disaster Management and Response Network.
6) Maintain contact with the Dean of Students (w.r.t. students) or the manager/HOD (w.r.t. employees), and onsite PSD Officers.
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DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN