Distressed Behaviors

  • Anxious, depressed or overwhelmed
  • Prolonged and significant difficulty with the demands of college or work
  • Crying or emotionally distraught
  • Speaking or writing that seems bizarre
  • Sleeping or lethargic in class
  • Suspected use of drugs or alcohol that interferes with academic performance
  • Attending class or work while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
  • Suicidal thoughts, including joking about suicide
  • Dramatic changes in appearance
  • Marked changes in Academic behavior: falling grades, absences, poor concentration, avoiding participation
  • Marked changes in job performance, poor attendance, permissions, complaints/excuses.
  • Withdrawing from peers
  • Talking or writing about feelings of helplessness, hopelessness or despair
  • Giving away possessions
  • Preoccupation with themes that have violent content

Disruptive Behaviors

  • Anger problems, including arguing, shouting, cursing
  • Frequent interruptions that are off topic
  • Persisting in behavior when asked to stop by faculty, staff, or employer.
  • A persistent pattern of speech that is disrespectful or reflects thoughts of entitlement
  • Conversations designed to upset others around violent themes
  • Bullying behavior, including Staring, Glaring, “Mean mugging”
  •  Storming out of class or the workplace.
  • Violation of personal space
  • Intimidating behaviors

Dysregulated Behaviors

  • Stalking
  • Violence and cruelty
  • Homicidal thoughts or threats
  • Paranoid ideas or feelings
  • Physical assault
  • Throwing objects/property destruction
  • Self-Injuring behaviors like cutting or burning
  • Threats of harm or talk of getting even or a reckoning

Additional Behaviors of Concern that should be referred to BIT

  • Violent fantasy content in academic work or discussions
  • Preoccupation with weapons
  • Non-compliance with rules and policies or disciplinary matters
  • Focus on previous shooting situations
  • Victim/martyr ideas
  • Strange social and aberrant behavior
  • Engaging in high risk behaviors – potentially harmful stunts or activities 
  • Unusual interest in police, military, terrorist activities and materials
  • Language that objectifies and depersonalizes others
  • Racism or fixation on groups with unique cultural attributes
  • Experience of loss of face/humiliation in front of peers or coworkers