Project Grant H79SM084080

ROLLINS COLLEGE SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM - THE ROLLINS COLLEGE SUICIDE PREVENTION PROJECT AIMS TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE, COLLABORATIVE, WELL-COORDINATED, AND EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH TO SUICIDE PREVENTION. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO CONTINUE BUILDING AND ENHANCING NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE TO ALLOW THE ROLLINS WELLNESS CENTER TO EFFECTIVELY RESPOND TO AN ALARMING RATE OF SUICIDAL IDEATION AND MENTAL ILLNESS AMONG STUDENTS ON CAMPUS. THIS WILL BE ACHIEVED THROUGH SIX KEY ACTIVITIES OVER THE PROPOSED THREE-YEAR PERIOD: (1) CREATING A NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE TO LINK ROLLINS COLLEGE WITH APPROPRIATE CARE PROVIDERS FROM THE COMMUNITY; (2) TRAINING GATEKEEPERS (STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF) TO RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO THOSE AT-RISK FOR SUICIDE; (3) ADMINISTERING EFFECTIVE VOLUNTARY SCREENINGS AND ASSESSMENTS; (4) PROVIDING OUTREACH AND INFORMATION TO PROMOTE SUICIDE PREVENTION EFFORTS, ENCOURAGE HELP-SEEKING, AND INCREASE AWARENESS OF CRISIS RESOURCES; (5) PROVIDING MENTAL AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS PREVENTION AND TREATMENT SERVICES TO COLLEGE STUDENTS BY EMPLOYING APPROPRIATELY TRAINED STAFF; AND (6) INCREASING PEER-TO-PEER PREVENTION AND WELLNESS OPPORTUNITIES. WHILE THIS PROJECT WILL AIM TO ADDRESS THE ENTIRE CAMPUS' VULNERABILITY TO SUICIDE AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, THERE ARE SEVERAL POPULATIONS IDENTIFIED AS BEING PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE. THESE INCLUDE A GROWING NUMBER OF STUDENTS OF COLOR; LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER (LGBT) STUDENTS; STUDENT VETERANS; AND THOSE WITH PRE-EXISTING MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS. IN ADDITION, INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS, COMMUTER STUDENTS AND FINANCIALLY INSECURE STUDENTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS POPULATIONS OF FOCUS. THE ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN WILL SUPPORT AN ESTIMATED 3,200 COLLEGE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FACULTY ANNUALLY AND OVER 5,000 STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF THE PROJECT. THE PROJECT WILL FOCUS ON THE FOLLOWING CORE STRATEGIES: IMPLEMENTING THE SUICIDE PREVENTION STRATEGIC PLAN DEVELOPED BY JED CAMPUS; DEVELOPING MOUS WITH PARTNER AGENCIES FOR MENTAL HEALTH, EATING DISORDERS, AND SUBSTANCE MISUSE TREATMENT THAT SPECIFICALLY SUPPORT THE TARGET POPULATIONS; ENHANCING THE EXISTING QPR GATEKEEPER PROGRAM AND ADDING A YOU CAN HELP GATEKEEPER PROGRAM; EXPANDING LIFE SKILLS TRAINING ACROSS CAMPUS AND THROUGH CURRICULUM; ADDING IN-PERSON SCREENINGS AT WELLNESS DAYS/EVENTS; ENSURING UNIVERSAL SCREENING FOR DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND SUICIDE IDEATION AT ALL ROLLINS WELLNESS CENTER APPOINTMENTS; AND EXTENSIVE OUTREACH AIMED AT INCREASING HELP-SEEKING, DECREASING HIGH-RISK BEHAVIORS SUCH AS BINGE DRINKING, AND INCREASING AWARENESS OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES; BOLSTERING SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE TRANSITIONING TO ROLLINS BY DEVELOPING A STRATEGY TO IDENTIFY FIRST-YEAR AND TRANSFER STUDENTS WITH MENTAL AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE HISTORY AND CONNECT THEM TO RESOURCES BOTH PRIOR TO WHEN THEY ARRIVE AND AS THEY ARRIVE ON CAMPUS; DEVELOP AND PROMOTE A COLLEGIATE RECOVERY PROGRAM; AND SUPPORT STUDENT GROUPS THAT ENGAGE IN MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ACTIVITIES BY ENCOURAGING STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN PEER-TO-PEER WELLNESS PROGRAMMING. THIS INCLUDES PROVIDING TRAINING, SUPPORT, AND FUNDING FOR THEIR PROGRAMMING INITIATIVES, ESTABLISHING AN ACTIVE MINDS CHAPTER ON CAMPUS, AND PARTNERING WITH STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT THE VULNERABLE AND TARGET POPULATIONS IDENTIFIED TO OFFER WELLNESS SERIES AND OTHER OUTREACH PROGRAMMING SPECIFICALLY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THESE GROUPS.