Project Grant H79SM086247

RIVERSIDE CITY COLLEGE SAMSHA GLS PROGRAM - THE "SAY THE WORDS STOP SUICIDE" PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO SERVE THE RIVERSIDE CITY COLLEGE POPULATION. RIVERSIDE CITY COLLEGE SERVES A DIVERSE COMMUNITY OF LEARNERS BY OFFERING CERTIFICATES, DEGREES, AND TRANSFER PROGRAMS THAT HELP STUDENTS ACHIEVE THEIR EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER GOALS. RCC SERVES ABOUT 22,000 STUDENTS AND IS KNOWN FOR ITS PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, VETERANS, AND THOSE REPRESENTING RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITIES. THE GOAL OF THE RCC SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH TO THE ISSUE OF SUICIDE PREVENTION BY (1) TRAINING KEY GATEKEEPER STAFF; (2) ESTABLISHING A PEER-TO-PEER PROGRAM; (3) PROVIDING PREVENTION EDUCATIONAL EVENTS; AND (4) DESIGNING A CRISIS MANAGEMENT PLAN. RCC'S SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM HAS THREE OBJECTIVES. THE FIRST OBJECTIVE IS TO CREATE A NETWORKING INFRASTRUCTURE TO LINK THE INSTITUTION WITH HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS FROM THE BROADER COMMUNITY AND RESOURCES. THE SECOND OBJECTIVE IS TO PROVIDE PREVENTION-FOCUSED AND RESPONSE-FOCUSED TRAINING TO FACULTY AND STAFF TO ASSIST STUDENTS WITH SYMPTOMS OF MENTAL HEALTH DISTRESS. THE THIRD OBJECTIVE IS TO EDUCATE AND INCREASE STUDENT AWARENESS OF ON-CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES. THE PROGRAM STRATEGIES INCLUDE MENTAL HEALTH OUTREACH ACTIVITIES AND FAIRS, ONLINE AND FACE-TO-FACE PRESENTATIONS, AND MENTAL HEALTH WORKSHOPS TO REDUCE MENTAL HEALTH STIGMAS AND PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS. DURING THE GRANT FUNDING PERIOD, RCC WILL TRAIN 25% N=165 OF ITS FACULTY MEMBERS AND WILL TARGET 1,0000 PARTICIPANTS PER YEAR. AFTER FUNDING ENDS, RCC WILL CONTINUE TO EDUCATE FACULTY, STAFF, AND STUDENTS USING THE MATERIALS PURCHASED WITH GRANT FUNDS.