Project Grant H79SM089854

This federal Project Grant award of $306,000 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) under the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.243) will enable Johnson & Wales University to build its capacity to prevent suicide and address mental health and substance use disorders among its student population.

The project, titled "Project PLUS (Prevention, Lowering Stigma, Increasing Understanding, and Support)," will involve establishing an advisory council, hiring additional case management staff, conducting student mental health assessments, increasing Mental Health First Aid and suicide prevention training, expanding community partnerships, enhancing voluntary substance use screening, and implementing student-led efforts to reduce stigma. These activities aim to strengthen the university's ability to prevent and respond to behavioral health crises, improve campus-wide knowledge about suicide prevention and mental/substance use disorders, and reduce stigma to promote help-seeking behavior. Over the 3-year project period ending September 2027, the grant will serve the university's student population of over 4,000, with a focus on underserved groups such as LGBTQIA+ students, students of color, low-income, and first-generation college students.