Project Grant H79SM086242

2022 GLS CAMPUS GRANT TO PREVENT SUICIDE AND PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH - THE MILWAUKEE AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGE (MATC) GLS CAMPUS 2022 PROJECT STRIVES TO PREVENT SUICIDE IDEATION, ATTEMPTS, AND DEATHS AMONG STUDENTS BY PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH AND HELP-SEEKING BEHAVIORS, AND TO SUPPORT AT-RISK GROUPS ACROSS THE COLLEGE AND PARTNERING COMMUNITY. THE PROJECT WILL SERVE A MINIMUM OF 3,000 STUDENTS PER YEAR, AS WELL AS BENEFIT STUDENT FAMILY MEMBERS, COLLEGE EMPLOYEES, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. TO ACHIEVE THIS TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE, MATC WILL USE A COMPREHENSIVE, PARTNER-COORDINATED, EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH TO ENHANCE OUR COUNSELING AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES INFRASTRUCTURE TO HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT IN MEETING STUDENT NEEDS RELATED TO MENTAL WELLNESS AND SUICIDE PREVENTION. EFFORTS INCLUDE: 1) MENTAL WELLNESS INFRASTRUCTURE TRANSFORMATION VIA FOCUS ON CRISIS PROTOCOLS AND SUPPORT PROVIDED TO ALL STUDENTS (WHILE SPECIFICALLY TARGETING THOSE AT HIGH-RISK); SUBSTANCE ABUSE, MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS, AND LIFE STRESSORS; COORDINATION WITH A CONTRACTED SUPPLEMENTAL 24/7 VIRTUAL MENTAL WELLNESS PROVIDER; AND PANDEMIC RELIEF SUPPORTS; 2) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND STAFF TRAINING ON TOPICS INCLUDING QPR, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, AT-RISK POPULATIONS, PANDEMIC-RELATED IMPACTS, AND ADDITIONAL RELEVANT AREAS; 3) STUDENT AWARENESS AND TRAINING ON TOPICS INCLUDING SUICIDE PREVENTION RESOURCE CENTER'S FRAMEWORK FOR SUCCESSFUL MESSAGING, EQUITY IN MENTAL HEALTH FRAMEWORK VIA WORKSHOPS, MARKETING, AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS; 4) PARTNERSHIP COLLABORATIONS TO ENHANCE AND EXPAND A STRONG AND BENEFICIAL NETWORK OF EXTERNAL MENTAL WELLNESS SUPPORTS AND RESOURCES; AND 5) DATA COLLECTION AND PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT. THIS PROGRAM WILL BE CULTURALLY BROAD AND INFORMED BY DIRECT INPUT FROM STUDENTS, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, FACULTY, AND STAFF.