UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), a unit of Penn State Student Affairs, has updated the Red Folder and the Red Folder website for fall 2022. Copies of the updated Red Folder, an oversized red folder with clear graphics and informative text, will be distributed to all faculty, staff and student leaders at all Penn State campuses through early October. Updates are currently live on the Red Folder website.
The Red Folder is designed as a quick reference guide for anyone that interacts with students as part of their role at Penn State. The folder helps users quickly recognize students experiencing distress and respond, then refer that student effectively. The folders should be kept in an easily accessible place for quick reference, along with a bookmark or desktop shortcut to the Red Folder website.
The fall 2022 redesign provides more context around levels of distress (high, moderate, low) and gives key resources for each of those levels. Previously, the folder only focused on high distress. The expansion also offers specific examples of action steps and statements to increase a helper’s confidence when supporting someone else.
“People were very effectively using the Red Folder to help students in high distress, which is primarily defined by safety concerns. By further educating the campus community about how to recognize, respond, and refer students experiencing moderate and low levels of distress, individuals can preventatively help students by addressing concerns about their mental health and wellbeing before reaching a point of high distress,” said Stephanie Stama, assistant director, community education and outreach for CAPS. “We encourage the campus community to play an active role in mental health prevention as the trusted, compassionate people students interact with in their daily lives. The goal is to ‘reduce the Red.’ As a community, we can prevent students from getting to the point of high distress by intervening earlier.”
The Red Folder highlights potential academic, psychological and physical signs of student distress, as well as safety risk indicators. Penn State’s Red Folder uses the terms “recognize, respond and refer” to organize tips to recognize indicators of distress; practice strategies to meaningfully respond, including a decision tree to aid in choosing the next best course of action; and identify various resources to refer a student as part of offering effective help across all campus locations.
For the updated folder, colors are used to delineate the distress levels. Green is associated with low distress and eustress, which typically defines students who are thriving. Yellow is associated with moderate distress, and Red is for urgent distress. The Red Folder website includes more detailed information about recognizing, responding, referral decision-making, and resources for all distress levels.
Green (low distress) indicators include behaviors that imply short-term stressors. Students who fall into this category are fulfilling daily tasks and roles adequately or exceptionally; they perform well in class and could use an extra boost to enhance their overall wellbeing. Such students should be referred to resources like Campus Recreation for a fun workout class or Career Services for a resume review.
Yellow (moderate distress) indicators include students who exhibit noticeable changes in their actions and performance, both academically and socially. At this level of distress, others may be worried about the student’s wellbeing; however, there is not a concern about the student’s safety or the safety of others. These students may need extra support to cope with personal or academic difficulties and demonstrate some difficulty consistently fulfilling their responsibilities. Students in this category might be referred to resources such as Academic Advising, Residence Life, or University Health Services.
Red (urgent distress level) indicators include student behaviors that clearly indicate someone will be harmed if no intervention occurs. Factors include but are not limited to classroom disruptions, marked changes in physical appearance, abrupt social disconnection, giving away personal effects, failure to respond to communications, and self-disclosure of personal stress directly or embedded in coursework. These students need immediate assistance. Students who exhibit such indicators should be referred to resources such as the Penn State Crisis Line, which provides 24/7 access to licensed mental health counselors by calling 1-877-229-6400. Additional resources include Center for Community Resources (CCR) 24/7 at 814-699-8544 (2100 East College Ave.) and University Police (call 814-863-1111 or 911).
The resources available in the print versions of Penn State’s Red Folder are uniquely tailored to each campus. The website also offers lists of resources specific to each Penn State campus. The Red Folder website will always be the most up-to-date place to locate resources and information.
The Red Folder initiative was designed to provide resources and information to support faculty, staff, administrators, student leaders, and others in the community in helping distressed students. CAPS manages the Red Folder website, physical folders, and distribution. Initially launched in 2018, foundational support of the Red Folder initiative was provided by the University Park Undergraduate Association and the Council for Commonwealth Student Governments.