East Carolina University (ECU) prioritizes the well-being of every member of its diverse campus community, including students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Recognizing the numerous pressures individuals may face, Ecu Cares stands as a dedicated initiative offering timely intervention and comprehensive support. Our commitment is to address worrying behaviors and individuals undergoing hardship by connecting them with vital resources, diligently following up on their needs, and working closely with campus professionals to effectively navigate challenging situations. ECU Cares is your go-to support system for maintaining a healthy and thriving university environment.
Our Mission: The Heart of ECU Cares
The ECU Cares Team, operating under the Office of the Dean of Students, plays a critical role in assisting students who are experiencing distress or exhibiting concerning behaviors. Our core mission is to ensure these students are seamlessly connected with the necessary resources that foster both academic achievement and emotional well-being. We accomplish this through a multifaceted approach:
- Proactive Case Management: ECU Cares takes immediate action by reaching out to individuals facing crises or displaying worrying behaviors. This outreach ensures they receive well-rounded support and assistance tailored to their specific circumstances. We believe in proactive intervention to prevent situations from escalating.
- Thorough Assessment and Tailored Support: We conduct in-depth behavioral assessments to gain a clear understanding of each situation. This allows us to provide informed recommendations for relevant campus and community resources precisely designed to address individual concerns. Our goal is to match the right support with the right need.
- Empowering Self-Advocacy: ECU Cares is dedicated to equipping students with the essential skills to effectively advocate for themselves. We guide them in navigating their challenges successfully and building resilience for future obstacles. We believe in empowering students to become active participants in their own well-being journey.
Through these dedicated services, ECU Cares actively cultivates a supportive and inclusive environment where every member of the university community can flourish, both personally and academically. We are committed to fostering a campus where well-being is paramount.
Recognizing Behaviors of Concern: Your Role in ECU Cares
Every member of the ECU community is a vital contributor to maintaining a supportive and safe environment. Your attentiveness and proactive involvement are crucial. If you observe anyone exhibiting behaviors that cause concern or displaying signs of distress that might negatively impact their academic pursuits, career aspirations, personal well-being, or potentially pose a safety risk to themselves or others, we strongly encourage you to report these instances. Your vigilance and timely reporting are essential in ensuring everyone receives the support they need to succeed and remain safe within our community. ECU Cares relies on community participation to effectively support our students.
Understanding Categories of Concern:
To help guide your observations, here are some categories of behaviors that may warrant reporting to ECU Cares:
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General Mental Health and Well-Being: This encompasses a range of emotional difficulties that can arise from life transitions or significant events. Examples include:
- Experiencing emotional distress due to major life changes like grief, relationship issues, or family problems.
- Exhibiting excessive anxiety, persistent depression, or frequent, unexplained crying episodes.
- Displaying unusual or erratic behavior that deviates significantly from their norm.
- Showing clear and noticeable signs of distress that are impacting their daily functioning.
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Emotional Well-Being Challenges: This category focuses on difficulties in managing emotions and maintaining a positive outlook:
- Demonstrating significant difficulty in coping with everyday stressors and pressures.
- Expressing feelings of hopelessness, despair, or a lack of purpose in life.
- Experiencing extreme mood swings or noticeable emotional instability.
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Academic and Classroom Related Concerns: These behaviors manifest within the academic setting and can disrupt learning or indicate underlying issues:
- Submitting concerning written material in assignments that raise flags about their well-being.
- Engaging in class discussions that reveal disturbing thoughts or emotional distress.
- Accumulating excessive or unexplained absences from classes, particularly when unresponsive to outreach from instructors or university staff.
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Basic Needs Insecurity: Addressing fundamental needs is crucial for overall well-being. Concerns in this area include:
- Experiencing food insecurity, lacking consistent access to adequate food.
- Facing housing insecurity, with unstable or inadequate living arrangements.
- Dealing with pregnancy or parenting concerns that create significant stress or challenges.
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Self-Harming Behaviors (Require Immediate Attention): These situations are critical and demand prompt action:
- Expressing explicit plans to complete suicide or having a history of recent suicide attempts.
- Reporting or observing self-injurious behaviors such as cutting, burning, or other forms of self-harm, or making threats of self-harm.
- Communicating suicidal thoughts or ideations, whether verbally or in writing.
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Safety Concerns (Require Immediate Attention): These behaviors pose potential risks to the individual or others:
- Engaging in alcohol abuse or exhibiting signs of alcohol dependence.
- Demonstrating substance abuse or dependence on illicit drugs.
- Participating in risky or reckless behaviors that endanger themselves or others.
- Engaging in choking or strangulation behaviors, which can indicate dangerous activities.
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Threatening Behaviors (Require Immediate Attention): These behaviors involve potential harm to others:
- Expressing homicidal thoughts or ideations, indicating a desire to harm others.
- Displaying or using weapons in a manner that causes alarm or threatens safety.
- Showing an excessive fascination with violence, weapons, fire, or ammunition.
- Making direct statements threatening harm to other individuals.
- Explore Other Threatening and Concerning Behaviors – Click Here for a more comprehensive list.
Meet the ECU Cares Team
The ECU Cares Team is composed of dedicated individuals and representatives from various key departments across the university. This multidisciplinary team approach ensures a comprehensive and coordinated response to student concerns. Team members come from areas such as:
- Dean of Students Office
- Counseling and Student Development Center
- Student Health Services
- Academic Advising
- University Housing
- ECU Police Department
- And other relevant campus departments
This diverse team structure allows ECU Cares to draw upon a wide range of expertise and resources to effectively support students in need.
Frequently Asked Questions about ECU Cares
How do I determine if a concern warrants a report to ECU Cares?
While we provide the “Behaviors of Concern” list as a helpful guide, we encourage you to err on the side of caution. If something is concerning you, please report it. Let the ECU Cares team assess the situation and determine the appropriate course of action. It’s always better to report and allow professionals to evaluate the situation.
Will the individual I report find out about my report?
Protecting your privacy is paramount. Information identifying the reporting party is not disclosed to the individual of concern. However, it’s important to be aware that in certain situations, the individual might infer the reporter’s identity based on the specific details of the reported situation. ECU Cares case managers will not confirm or deny any assumptions made by the concerned party regarding the reporter’s identity.
Where should I report incidents of Sexual Assault or Harassment?
For reporting incidents of discrimination or harassment based on protected class, or incidents such as sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking, please utilize the Equal Opportunity and Title IX Concerns & Complaints reporting system. These types of reports are handled through a separate, specialized process to ensure appropriate support and response.
What happens after I submit a report to ECU Cares?
Once a report is submitted, a dedicated non-clinical Case Manager from ECU Cares will promptly initiate contact to identify students who may require support. They will conduct thorough assessments and implement early interventions that are specifically tailored to the student’s expressed concerns. The goal is to connect them with the most suitable campus and community resources to address their needs effectively. To maintain the privacy of the individual receiving support, ECU Cares does not provide follow-up information to the reporting party unless additional details are required by the Dean of Students Office for further action.
University Behavioral Concerns Team
Resources for Student Well-being
Report a Concern to ECU Cares
