It is often students who are the first to notice and become concerned about their fellow students’ behaviour and actions, such as consumption of intoxicating substances. How to know when to bring up the issue that causes you concern? The fact that you are concerned is itself a sign that the situation should be considered.

You can reflect on your concerns by asking yourself the following questions:
• What, in concrete terms, caused you to become concerned? Was it something your fellow student has said or done? Has the student’s behaviour changed over time?

Things appear to us in different ways depending on our values and interests, and our previous experiences of interacting with other people. Not everyone has, for example, an extroverted personality. Some students are quiet and reserved. That is why we cannot always know what elements of a person’s behaviour can be explained by differences in personality and what might be a sign that something is wrong. In particular, if you don’t know your fellow student very well, it might be more difficult to tell the difference. What always applies, however, is that if you notice inappropriate or offensive behaviour, it is important to do something to intervene.

If you become concerned about another student, you can always contact the university staff. Remember that you are not alone in difficult situations. You can start, for example, by asking what you could do in a situation that causes you concern without having to mention your fellow student’s name. In addition to the staff of your faculty, you can receive support from the university social worker and the study psychologist, for example. The staff members cannot share another student’s personal data with you, but as employees of the university, they can work to support the well-being of your study colleague.

There is no one right way of acting or bringing up your concerns. You do not need to have a script about what to say, but it is, however, recommendable to think beforehand about how you could express your thoughts, because it might be helpful when bringing the issue to discussion. Instead of voicing your concerns directly, you can also approach the situation by asking how your fellow student is doing: “How are you?”, “How’s it going?”, “How have you been?” Such questions open the door for communication and let the other person tell about their situation in their own words.

If you want to express your concern subtly, you can, for example, ask the other student: “Is everything OK?” Although responses may vary, asking such questions is a more neutral way of starting discussion than addressing your concerns directly. The most important support that you can give to a study colleague is to open the possibility for them to be noticed and listened to.

You can also always encourage your study colleague to seek help. Sometimes it might be difficult for the person in need of help to assess their own situation or they might hesitate to seek help. Putting into words that seeking help is a good decision and that in some situations professional help is needed, is significant. You may also agree to help your fellow student get in touch with the services they need. Or you can ask if the person has someone who could support them with seeking help.

On the University of Lapland’s website, on the Guidance and support page, you can find contact information of the university actors you can get in contact with. On the Well-being and health page you can find a list of services that offer help and support for students in different life situations. At the bottom of the page, a list of services that might be useful in challenging situations is provided. Remember that you have already helped when you have encouraged someone to seek help. It is not your responsibility to ensure that they will actually seek and accept help.

If you become concerned about another student’s possible self-destructive thoughts or behaviour, it is important to voice your concerns directly. Asking directly about suicide or self-destructive behaviour is not a bad thing. Rather on the contrary; it might help the person get the help they need.

You can ask, for example:
• Do you have suicidal thoughts? Have you been thinking about hurting yourself?

If you are in a situation discussing the above with someone, the following might be helpful:
• Try to stay calm, breathe slowly and deeply.
• Give the other student time, allow them to speak and express themselves while you focus on listening and speak less.
• Staying calm communicates that the situation is manageable.
• If another student is making suicidal threats, express that the responsibility for their actions is theirs, and if needed, call the Emergency Response Centre Agency by dialling 112. The emergency response centre will assess the situation and assume the responsibility for the assessment.
• Process your experience as soon as possible after the situation by discussing it with a member of the teaching staff, a study colleague, a person close to you or seek support from some other source. If you need more help and support to process the situation, you can contact the Student Health Services or a crisis centre near you.

The most important thing you can do is to refer the other student to an appropriate service for help if you feel and/or the other student feels that help is needed. You do not have to be able to assess if the threat in the situation is real. All you need to do is to direct the other student to an appropriate source of help.

Consumption of intoxicating substances can significantly affect a person’s ability to study and their well-being and ability to perform in general life situations. A student may become concerned about their own consumption of intoxicating substances, or the persons close to the student and the student’s study
colleagues can likewise become concerned about it. The student’s study colleagues are likely to be the first to notice other students’ problems related to consumption of intoxicating substances early on.

Signs that a student may have a problem with intoxicating substances include:
• the student is repeatedly injured or becomes embroiled in fights because of their state of intoxication.
• the student repeatedly drinks so heavily that they are on the verge of passing out and/or they do not remember the events of the evening.
• the student has no control over when to start or stop consuming intoxicating substances or cannot control the amounts consumed.
• the student consumes intoxicating substances more and more often and longer than planned.
• a large part of the student’s free time is spent consuming substances or recovering from it.
• the student’s relationships, studying, work and free time are negatively affected by consumption of substances.
• consumption of substances continues regardless of the fact that the student is aware of its multiple negative impacts.

Intervention in the substance abuse problem as early as possible and bringing up the issue to discussion are among the primary measures to take when there is concern about a student’s consumption of intoxicating substances. Consumption of substances that gives rise to concern and its effects on the student’s studies and well-being can be brought to discussion by a staff member, the head of study affairs, MyTeacher, or a study colleague. Bringing up the issue should always be done in a one-on-one discussion, which means that another student’s consumption of substances should not be mentioned in group situations, for example in the presence of other students. If you are concerned about a fellow student’s use of substances, it is recommendable to discuss the issue with the student themselves as soon as possible after the situation which caused concern, for example the day after a party. When bringing up the issue, it is important to make the fellow student aware of the fact that their substance use has caused concern, or, for example that you think that they consume too much alcohol. If you need help with bringing up and intervening in the issue, you can also contact the substance abuse contact person of the university.

Our university’s Substance abuse programme for students includes further instructions and details on the roles of different actors in intervening in substance abuse problems. The purpose of the Substance abuse programme is to promote our students’ ability to study and work and to prevent negative impacts of consumption of intoxicating substance, as well as to facilitate intervention in students’ substance abuse problems and referral to appropriate services and treatment.

Disruptive behaviour in learning situations includes, for example, behaviour causing repeated interruptions in activities, talking over others, shouting, and making inappropriate or offensive comments. Sending inappropriate text or e-mail messages and making inappropriate comments in social media also constitutes disruptive behaviour.

Each and every member of our university community has the right to work in peace, and if you experience disruptive behaviour during a course, discuss the issue with the teacher of the course. The teacher of the course is responsible for maintaining peaceful working conditions during teaching. If necessary, you can also contact the vice dean responsible for education or the dean of the faculty. The university has a statutory obligation and authority to intervene in a student’s or an employee’s disruptive behaviour. Inappropriate behaviour may lead to disciplinary measures specified in the university’s own operational instructions and legislation.

If disruptive behaviour occurs and the situation does not seem threatening, you can tell the person engaging in that behaviour that you feel that what they are doing is inappropriate or you can point out that it is illegal. Ask the person to stop engaging in the behaviour. If the person’s inappropriate behaviour nevertheless continues, document the situations/expressions you experience as inappropriate behaviour and tell about your experiences to the teacher in charge of the course or the faculty’s vice dean responsible for education. The university has the obligation to intervene in the situation and inappropriate behaviour may lead to disciplinary measures. The process is described in detail in the university’s instructions Inappropriate conduct, harassment and bullying – help for students.

Threatening behaviour includes, for example, situations in which a student engages in behaviour that threatens their own safety or the safety of others during teaching, during free time activities, or in other public spaces. It is important to bear in mind that also social media (Facebook pages and groups etc.) is a public space where threatening behaviour can be encountered. If you become aware of such threatening messages, it is advisable to act as you would in an acute threatening situation and call the general emergency number 112. Also call the emergency number if you see signs of suicidal intent or any other violent behaviour. The emergency response centre will assess the situation and assume the responsibility for the assessment. Your responsibility as a study colleague in the situation ends there.

Violence or threat violence often require additional measures alongside discussion with the student.

What to do in a threatening situation:
• Try to remain calm and respond to provocation without resorting to provocation yourself.
• Keep your hands where they can be seen and move calmly.
• Call the emergency number 112 as soon as possible and describe the situation. If possible, calm down the threatening person by speaking calmly, and try to show that you listen to the threatening person’s concerns. Calling for help is the most important thing to do in the situation. Professionals will assess the situation and decide on the appropriate measures to take. Do not hesitate to call for help. It is always better to make the emergency call than to put anyone’s health at risk.
• If the threat is targeted towards you and/or the threatening person does not calm down, find an excuse to flee to the nearest safe space. Do not turn your back on a person who is behaving in a threatening manner.
• After the situation, tell about your experience and observations to the teaching staff.
• After the situation, seek support for yourself. Threatening situations can be traumatic and the experience of it may linger long after the situation. Talk about the experience with a study colleague, contact Student Health Services, the university social worker or the study psychologist.

Our university has a zero tolerance for inappropriate conduct, harassment and bullying. Every member of the university community must ensure that they do not, through their conduct, cause harm or danger to the safety or health of others. We will intervene in inappropriate conduct on a low threshold. Each and every member of our community is responsible for and contributes to the work and study atmosphere and well-being at the university.

Situations can arise in which conflicts of interests and opinions cannot be avoided. Such situations will be addressed in a manner that does not put pressure on any party. The parties involved are expected to be able to focus the discussion on the issues themselves and to follow appropriate conduct.

The right of students to a safe learning environment that is free from harassment, discrimination and bullying is based on the Universities Act, the Non-discrimination Act, and the Act on Equality between Women and Men.

Recognising inappropriate conduct
Inappropriate conduct means behaviour towards another person that is generally considered inappropriate or is unlawful. It is often systematic and continuous, negative activity intended to subjugate another person that can manifest itself, for example, as actions or neglect. In addition, even isolated, less severe acts can constitute inappropriate conduct when targeted repeatedly at the same persons. Inappropriate conduct can be engaged in by other students, staff members, or a cooperation partner’s representatives.

Inappropriate conduct includes, for example
• threatening and yelling
• physical and mental violence
• making unfounded negative remarks about a person’s characteristics, personality traits or private life, or questioning the mental health of a person
• isolating a person from a community’s social interaction
• Harassment can be targeted at people based on their age, skin colour, opinions, beliefs, or harassment can be inappropriate behaviour of a sexual or gender-based nature. Harassment is behaviour that violates another person through verbal expression, actions or attitudes. Sexual or gender-based harassment can be physical or verbal abuse. Innuendo, making faces and inappropriate gestures, inappropriate touching, inappropriate contact and rude comments are forms of harassment.

Mental violence is continuous, repeated bullying, belittling, or other negative behaviour. The target experiences mental violence as anxiety-provoking, subjugating, humiliating, or threatening and makes them feel unable to defend themselves.

However, not all conflicts constitute inappropriate conduct. For example, the following are not inappropriate conduct:
• constructive academic disagreement and academic debate;
• conflicts arising out of contradictory interpretations regarding decisions concerning work or studies;
• assessment of study attainments and providing feedback about study attainments in an appropriate manner; or
• when the university, in an appropriate manner and for a justified reason, gives the student instructions on appropriate conduct, or when the university is exercising its disciplinary power over the student.

No one needs to tolerate any form of inappropriate conduct. If you have experienced inappropriate conduct, you should let the person who engaged in that conduct know that you do not tolerate their actions and ask them to stop. If you feel that you are unable to do this, you should contact the harassment contact persons of the student union or the subject association, or the dean and the administrative manager of the faculty.

Reporting inappropriate conduct experienced by you

Inappropriate conduct can be reported by making a phone call, by personal visit or by e-mail.
A) In the event of inappropriate conduct, bullying or harassment experienced between students in a teaching situation or between students when conducting research
• Contact the dean of the faculty directly.
B) In the event of inappropriate conduct, bullying or harassment experienced between a student and a staff member or a cooperation partner’s representative with a role in the student’s studies or research
• Contact the dean of the faculty directly.
C) In the event of inappropriate conduct, bullying or harassment between students during free time
• Contact the harassment contact persons of the student union and the subject associations directly: https://lyy.fi/en/our-work/the-protection-of-interests-in-lyy/
D) In the event of inappropriate conduct, bullying or harassment between a postgraduate student without an employment relationship with the University of Lapland and a staff member
• Contact the dean of the faculty directly.

Every case will be addressed with utmost confidentiality and, in accordance with the university’s existing processes, it will be agreed how to proceed. The university aims to intervene in any problem situations as quickly and early as possible. Building trust is a characteristic of a sound discussion culture. Most of the situations can be resolved through discussion between the parties involved. If the criteria of harassment or inappropriate conduct are met or the conflict situation continues after the issue has been brought up, you can submit an official, written notification about the issue to the dean of the faculty.

If you want to discuss the issue, you can seek help and support by contacting the university social worker or the study psychologist, or talk to other students, other persons close to you or contact some other source providing help. If you need more help and support, you can also contact the Student Health Services.

The process is described in detail and instructions on dealing with inappropriate conduct are provided on the webpage of Inappropriate conduct, harassment and bullying – help for students. The page also includes the contact information of the actors to contact in such situations.

Inappropriate conduct, harassment and bullying

The University’s separate instructions on Inappropriate conduct, harassment and bullying for students.

Instructions of the Student Union of the University of Lapland https://lyy.fi/en/our-work/the-protection-of-interests-in-lyy/

The Non-discrimination Act in Finlex https://www.finlex.fi/en/legislation/translations/2014/eng/1325

The website of the Non-discrimination Ombudsman https://yhdenvertaisuusvaltuutettu.fi/en/front-page

Self-destructive behaviour

Mieli ry. Suicidal thoughts and self-destructiveness. https://mieli.fi/en/support-and-help/suicidal-thoughts-and-self-destructiveness/

Concern about another person
Mieli ry. https://mieli.fi/en/support-and-help/suicidal-thoughts-and-self-destructiveness/concern-over-the-suicidal-thoughts-of-a-loved-one/

Intoxicating substances
The University of Lapland’s Substance Abuse Programme for Students

The operational safety instructions of the University
Safety instructions of the University of Lapland