Project Grant H79SM086327

THE JOSH PROJECT, PREVENTING AND REDUCING SUICIDE AT LYON COLLEGE. - LYON COLLEGE, LOCATED IN BATESVILLE, ARKANSAS URGENTLY REQUESTS SAMHSA GARRETT LEE SMITH FUNDING FOR THE JOSH PROJECT (JOINT OUTREACH FOR SCOT'S HEALTH). JOSH WILL AFFECT THE ALMOST 700 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS THAT ATTEND LYON EACH YEAR, OVER 2,000 DURING THE LIFE OF THE GRANT WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON LGBTQ AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS, AT INCREASED RISK OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. JOSH WILL PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL, COMPASSIONATE, AND URGENT RESPONSE TO THE CURRENT CRITICAL CHALLENGES ON CAMPUS EXACERBATED BY A RECENT SUICIDE, OTHER STUDENT DEATHS AND CRISES. JOSH WILL ESTABLISH TRAINING FOR FACULTY, STAFF, AND STUDENTS TO HELP THEM RECOGNIZE, RESPOND, AND INTERVENE WITH STUDENTS IN DISTRESS, IT WILL REINFORCE PROACTIVE INITIATIVES TO BUILD A POSITIVE CAMPUS CLIMATE AND STRENGTHEN THE SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE. JOSH IS A COLLABORATIVE PROGRAM, FIRST PRESENTED BY LYON ALUMNI IN THE MEMORY OF ONE OF THEIR CLASSMATES WHO COMMITTED SUICIDE AFTER LEAVING LYON. THE PROGRAM OUTLINE PROPOSED BY LYON ALUMNI COINCIDES WITH EXPERIENCED NEED. SINCE JANUARY 2022, THREE STUDENTS HAVE PUBLICLY THREATENED SUICIDE; THERE HAVE BEEN THREE DEATHS (ONE A CONFIRMED SUICIDE IN THE PAST 18 MONTHS). STUDENTS ARE CLEARLY OVERWHELMED AND STRUGGLING TO MANAGE THEIR MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL RESPONSE. LYON IS A MAJORITY WHITE CAMPUS WITH A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF INTERNATIONAL, BLACK AND HISPANIC STUDENTS. THE GOALS OF JOSH INCLUDE 1) INCREASE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, 2) EXPAND AND LEVERAGE CAMPUS RESOURCES FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH; 3) CREATE A WELCOMING AND SAFE CAMPUS ENVIRONMENT; 4) REDUCE STIGMA AND NORMALIZE HELP-SEEKING AND MENTAL HEALTH WELLBEING PRACTICES; AND 5) REDUCE AND PREVENT SUICIDE. THE OBJECTIVES ARE TO ADD IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL HEALTH RESOURCES, LAUNCH JED CAMPUS FUNDAMENTALS, HIRE THE JOSH PROJECT COORDINATOR, OFFER ANNUAL TRAINING FOR QPR FOR ALL STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF, AND MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING FOR CAMPUS LEADERS (FACULTY, STAFF AND STUDENTS), LAUNCH MENTAL HEALTH WEEKS WITH ACTIVITIES FOR ALL STUDENTS; IMPLEMENT EVENTS AND STUDENT SUPPORT GROUPS TO ENCOURAGE A DIVERSE AND SUPPORTIVE CAMPUS, LAUNCH AN ANNUAL MENTAL HEALTH ORIENTATION AND AWARENESS EVENT FOR ALL FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS, OFFER VOLUNTARY TRAINING IN QPR AND STRESS REDUCTION TO STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, REVIEW AND REVISE CAMPUS POLICIES FOR LETHAL WEAPONS, CRISIS RESPONSE AND MEDICAL LEAVE OF ABSENCE. THE JOSH PROJECT WILL LEVERAGE SAMHSA FUNDS WITH INVESTMENTS OF PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES AND MONEY FROM LYON ALUMNI AND FRIENDS TO CREATE A MULTI-PRONGED AND SUSTAINABLE APPROACH TO PROMOTING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.