Project Grant H79SM089949

KNIGHTS CARE PROJECT - BELLARMINE UNIVERSITY, LOCATED IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, REQUESTS FUNDING FOR THE KNIGHTS CARE PROJECT, WHICH SEEKS TO ADDRESS RISING MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE CHALLENGES AMONG ITS GENERAL STUDENT BODY (2,993 STUDENTS). BASED ON DESPERATE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS AND AN INCREASINGLY DIVERSE STUDENT POPULATION (26% UNDERREPRESENTED RACIAL MINORITY (URM), 27% LOW-INCOME, 22% FIRST-GENERATION, 30% LGBTQI+), THIS PROJECT WILL GIVE PARTICULAR FOCUS TO THESE FOUR SUB-POPULATIONS. IN THE PAST 10 YEARS, BELLARMINE HAS SEEN A 32% INCREASE IN STUDENT CONSULTATIONS FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES DESPITE DECLINING ENROLLMENT, WITH ISSUES LIKE NON-SUICIDAL SELF-INJURY, SUICIDAL IDEATION, AND PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALIZATIONS ON THE RISE. THE KNIGHTS CARE PROJECT'S GOALS ARE TO 1) ENHANCE INFRASTRUCTURE AND PEER-SUPPORT NETWORKS TO ADDRESS STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS, 2) INCREASE THE UNIVERSITY'S ABILITY TO DETECT, DIAGNOSE, AND TREAT MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEMS, 3) EXPAND GATEKEEPER TRAINING TO INCREASE SUPPORT AND REFERRALS FOR MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS, AND 4) STRENGTHEN MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION EFFORTS THROUGH DATA-DRIVEN AND EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES. OVER THE THREE-YEAR PERIOD OF GRANT FUNDING, THE KNIGHTS CARE PROJECT WILL SUPPORT THE MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE NEEDS OF OVER 3,000 UNIQUE BELLARMINE STUDENTS BY PROVIDING 3,000 MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SCREENINGS; HOSTING SIGNATURE MENTAL HEALTH WELLNESS EVENTS (3,375 ATTENDEES); EDUCATING OVER 600 STUDENTS THROUGH A MENTAL HEALTH SEMINAR SERIES; PROVIDING MENTAL WELLNESS PEER-EDUCATION TO OVER 300 FELLOW STUDENTS; TRAINING 475 CAMPUS COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN QUESTION, PERSUADE, AND REFER (QPR) AND 250 CAMPUS COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID (MHFA); ENGAGING MORE THAN 10% OF THE STUDENT POPULATION IN PEER-BASED SUPPORT UTILIZING TOGETHERALL; REACHING MORE THAN 50% OF THE STUDENT POPULATION WITH A MENTAL HEALTH MESSAGING CAMPAIGN; PROVIDING OVER 150 CRISIS INTERVENTION CALLS THROUGH PROTOCALL SERVICES; PROVIDING OVER 300 MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE NEEDS ASSESSMENT CONSULTATIONS TO LOW-INCOME, FIRST-GENERATION, URM, AND/OR LGBTQI+ STUDENTS; AND COLLECTING 65+ LBS. OF UNUSED/EXPIRED PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS. THE GLS CAMPUS SUICIDE PREVENTION GRANT WILL ENABLE THE PROJECT TO BUILD MENTAL HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE BY HIRING A PROJECT COORDINATOR/CASE MANAGER, WHO WILL COORDINATE ALL MAJOR ELEMENTS OF THE PROJECT AND PROVIDE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO TARGET STUDENT POPULATIONS. TO FURTHER ENHANCE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE PROJECT WILL CREATE THE BELLARMINE UNIVERSITY PARTNERS IN PREVENTION NETWORK, WHICH WILL SERVE TO ADVISE THE PROJECT TEAM AND DEVELOP STRATEGIC GOALS. THE PROJECT TEAM WILL REGULARLY MONITOR PROGRESS TOWARD PROJECT OBJECTIVES AND ADJUST APPROACHES AS NEEDED TO REDUCE DISPARITIES AND ENHANCE OUTCOMES.