Notre dame of maryland university's gator hope initiative - the gator hope initiative, named after the notre dame of maryland university (NDMU) gabby gator mascot, will serve undergraduate and…

Notre dame of maryland university's gator hope initiative - the gator hope initiative, named after the notre dame of maryland university (NDMU) gabby gator mascot, will serve undergraduate and graduate students at risk for mental illness, mood disorder, suicidality, and substance abuse. If granted the samhsa garrett LEE smith suicide prevention grant, the gator hope initiative will target support to at-risk NDMU students by increasing the capacity to identify students in need of care. Via the initiative, faculty, staff, and students will have an enhanced understanding of how and when to access available resources. The gator hope initiative will build capacity to support students who present to the counseling center and connect students to appropriate resources. The gator hope initiative will provide layered interventions and data collection. The first layer is to provide increased training for faculty, staff, and students in identifying and referring students in need of mental health or substance abuse prevention and support. The second level is to enrich the NDMU counseling center support for students by incorporating training in evidence-based practices in the treatment of at-risk students, to increase the ability to deliver treatment and destigmatizing outreach to students, and to increase the number of students who can be treated in the counseling center and supported by the university. The gator hope initiative will fund increased training for faculty and staff in identification and referral to treatment supports for students presenting with suicidal ideation, and substance abuse issues using the I can help program. The counseling center staff will implement use of the cams-care suicide risk assessment and prevention training framework when working with students who have suicidal ideation. NDMU's nascent peer education program will be enhanced with certification for peer educators through the national association of student personnel administrators (NASPA) and through training for peer educators in the I can help program, L allowing peer educators to develop the skills to refer and respond to fellow students' needs. The gator hope initiative will also increase access to support and care services for students. The number of doctoral psychology extern counselors in training at the counseling center will increase by 50%. Further, the counseling center will offer virtual counseling via bettermynd. This will allow provide services for virtual students, critical with the addition of the approximately 700 graduate students joining notre dame through the acquisition of the maryland university of integrated health. Bettermynd will provide a 24/7 emergency support line and well-being workshops for the student body.