Lecturer-student relations... how do you ask a lecturer if they are ok?

I went through that with my ela teacher. She is really strict and she was always crying after phone calls. One day I decided to ask and she said her mom and dad died in an accident. Then I asked if there was anything she wanted me to help her with and I spent a few hours helping her grade papers and at the end off the day, she thanked me and smiled. It was rewarding. Teachers and lecturers appreciate that their students care enough to make sure they are ok.