teachers/professors/students... what should I do to remedy this awkward situation?

Question

I'm a professor in a small town. I was out to dinner at a restaurant/bar, and I saw one of my incredibly bright students absolutely drunk. She's a juinor in college and she's only 18. Her writings in class have showed that she had a rough home life and has been through more in her short lived lifetime than most people experience in a lifetime.

She came up to me, drunk, and told me how she met this guy and was leaving with him. I was worried, so I asked to speak with her in the bathroom because the music was so loud. We walked in and she threw up everywhere. she was laying on the floor crying and i was rubbing her back, trying to comfort her. She was leading into me and crying hysterically.

I feel like I should talk to this student. But how? What should I say?

Answer 1

Sounds like a job for a guidance counselor. Did you notify him/her? If not...ask yourself the real reason you did not...and you will have the answer to your question of what is or is not appropriate.
Being a good samaritan is something we don't see often enough today...but the right person for the right job is more important for her well being yes? Doesn't mean you can't help her from within your capacity as professor. So help her. Refer her to someone who is trained to do so....and you can keep an eye on her...and even network with the school's guidance counselor to give her the support she rightly deserves.
Hope this helped.

Answer 2

Tell her that you are there for her.

If she wishes to seek help, you will support her in that effort.

If she wants some advice from you, tell her about your personal experiences in this area and how you resolved the problem.

Don't seek out her parents or friends to tell them of her plight. They are probably well aware of her situation.

In short, offer to be a friend, a confidant, if she wants.

If not, let it be.