Most of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning people you will encounter are seeking support, advice or information. Occasionally, you may have a person who is experiencing psychological distress. This may be evident in the following contexts:

• A person states they are no longer able to function normally in their classes or work. They may experience a drop in grades, academic performance or work.
• A person can no longer cope with their day-to-day activities and responsibilities. They may no longer be going to classes or may have been late arriving for work on such a frequent basis that they could be fired.
• A person expresses depressive symptoms such as sleep disturbance, sudden weight loss or weight gain, crying spells, fatigue, loss of interest or pleasure in previous enjoyable activities or an inability to concentrate or complete tasks.
• A person presents severe anxiety symptoms such as feelings of panic, shortness of breath, headaches, sweaty palms, dry mouth or racing thoughts. 
• A person expresses suicidal thoughts or feelings.
• A person has no support. They have no family or friends with whom they can talk about their sexual orientation. This person may not need counseling, but they could benefit from a support group.
• A good guideline is if you are feeling overwhelmed or worried about a person, refer them to a mental health professional.
• The Texas State Counseling Center offers free appointments to registered students. To make an appointment, call (512) 245-2208.

Last Modified: May 11, 2007