Project Grant H79SM089916

THE COLLEGE OF THE FLORIDA KEYS: CREATING A CULTURE OF CARE THROUGH TRAINING AND CONNECTEDNESS - THE OVERARCHING GOAL OF THE COLLEGE OF THE FLORIDA KEYS' (CFK) PROJECT IS TO PROMOTE RESILIENCE, SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS, AND CREATE A CULTURE OF CARE BY INCREASING THE CAPACITY OF THE COLLEGE TO PREVENT SUICIDE AND SUICIDE-RELATED BEHAVIORS AND IMPROVE AWARENESS OF AND ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING AND SERVICES FOR CFK STUDENTS. MONROE COUNTY, WHICH INCLUDES THE FLORIDA KEYS, HAS HISTORICALLY HAD ONE OF THE HIGHEST PER CAPITA SUICIDE RATES IN THE STATE. THE UNIQUE GEOGRAPHIC AND SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS OF THE KEYS, INCLUDING ISOLATION, ECONOMIC DISPARITIES, AND LIMITED ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES, CONTRIBUTE TO THIS ELEVATED RATE. THE PROPOSED PROJECT AIMS TO FORTIFY RESILIENCE, ENHANCE SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS, AND FOSTER A CULTURE OF CARE AMONG STUDENTS AT THE COLLEGE OF THE FLORIDA KEYS BY AMPLIFYING THE INSTITUTION'S CAPACITY TO PREVENT SUICIDE AND RELATED BEHAVIORS. THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY, THIS INITIATIVE SEEKS TO ELEVATE AWARENESS OF MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES, AUGMENT ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID (MHFA) TRAINING, AND BOLSTER THE NETWORK OF SUPPORT SERVICES AVAILABLE TO CFK STUDENTS. BY LEVERAGING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND ENGAGING WITH LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS, THE PROJECT ENDEAVORS TO CREATE A SUPPORTIVE ECOSYSTEM THAT PRIORITIZES STUDENT WELL-BEING AND PROMOTES PROACTIVE MEASURES TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. BY THE SPRING SEMESTER OF 2025, THE COLLEGE WILL ESTABLISH A SUSTAINABLE MHFA TRAINING PROGRAM FOR FACULTY AND STAFF, HARNESSING A CADRE OF MHFA INSTRUCTORS TO EXTEND CERTIFICATION TO THEIR PEERS. THIS INITIATIVE AIMS TO ENHANCE THE COLLEGE'S CAPABILITY TO PREVENT SUICIDE AND INTERVENE EFFECTIVELY IN CRISIS SITUATIONS. IN ADDITION, BY FALL 2025, CFK WILL INTRODUCE A STUDENT LIFE SKILLS SEMINAR CLASS CENTERED ON MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS. THIS SEMINAR WILL INCORPORATE MHFA CERTIFICATION OBJECTIVES, EQUIPPING STUDENTS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS NECESSARY TO RECOGNIZE AND RESPOND TO SIGNS OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE CHALLENGES. THE SEMINAR AIMS TO CULTIVATE A COHORT OF STUDENTS PROFICIENT IN MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID, THEREBY FOSTERING A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY WHERE STUDENTS CAN ACTIVELY CONTRIBUTE TO THE WELL-BEING OF THEIR PEERS. THROUGH THESE COORDINATED EFFORTS, THE PROJECT STRIVES TO EMPOWER CFK STUDENTS WITH THE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT NEEDED TO THRIVE ACADEMICALLY, SOCIALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY.