Six Model University-Based

Mental HealthPrograms:

What Will Work for Your Campus?

Angela AndradeDisabilities Specialist

Special Assistant to the Student Mental Health Committee

UC Santa BarbaraAndrade-a@sa.ucsb.edu

Workshop Overview

Model Programs Small Group Discussions Large Group Discussion

Small Group Discussions Campus Needs SMH Recommendations Program Critiques

Six Model Programs Columbia: Residence Halls-Based Counseling Georgetown: Postvention Program University of Illinois: Mandatory Suicide Assessment University of Washington: Suicide Prevention Program New York University: Mental Health Prevention Program Syracuse University: Gatekeeper Training Program

Six Model Programs Columbia: Residence Halls-Based Counseling Georgetown: Postvention Program University of Illinois: Mandatory Suicide Assessment University of Washington: Suicide Prevention Program New York University: Mental Health Prevention Program Syracuse University: Gatekeeper Training Program

Residence Halls-Based Counseling

Residence Halls-Based Counseling

Six University Counselors--Two Residence Halls Why?

Daily contact with students Increased visibility of psychological services Lowered barriers to care Help-seeking behavior destigmatized

Residence Halls-Based Counseling

Role of Counselors Drop in--no appointment necessary 10 pm, 4 nights/week Fully integrated into Residential Life Resource for Residential Life staff, informal and increased access

Residence Halls-Based Counseling

Outcomes 2004-5: 311 drop-ins; 119 new students Ambivalent students sought counseling Challenges in tracking students Expanded to more halls

Postvention Program

Postvention Program Model for post-crisis response Why?

Begin healing process Address broad impact on students Coordinated campus response, led by an experienced team Ever-improving model Flexibility based on student need

Postvention Program

Community Support Meetings (CSMs)

Held where students are Provide structure and consistency Get students talking about events Suggestions and support for survivors Campus and Community resources

CSM Team (Approx. 20) Membership from across campus Available on short notice Assessment after each CSM Monthly trainings

Postvention Program

Outcomes Students feel taken care of Administrators like having a protocol Response leaders feel prepared

Postvention Program

Mandatory Suicide Assessment

Program

Mandatory Suicide Assessment Program

Requires 4 counseling sessions after a reported suicidal threat or attempt in order for the student to stay in school Based on:

The premise that most students who attempt have not seen a counselor

The finding that for most completed suicides there was a public threat or previous attempt

From 1984 to 2006, 2000 students participated in mandatory counseling

One student declined counseling No student in the program committed suicide while at UI

Mandatory Suicide Assessment Program

While the national suicide rate remained stable . . . Suicide rates at UI from 1984-2003 did the following:

Declined 100% for females Declined 44% for males Declined 78% for undergraduates Increased 62% for graduate students

Mandatory Suicide Assessment Program

Annual Program Costs $10,000 Administration (Suicide Team) $40,000 Assessment $1.35 per enrolled student

Mandatory Suicide Assessment Program

Suicide Prevention Program

Suicide Prevention Program Third year of pilot

Mandatory 4 sessions for reported suicidal gesture or threat Mandatory reporters--SA and Res Life Suicide team evaluates report Senior staff member in Student Affairs office meets with student

All students have accepted offer for counseling Approx 10% were already in counseling Estimated 20-30% continue with counseling Most reports come from Res Life staff Catches young people at risk for impulsive suicide, but may be missing graduate students and older students

Suicide Prevention Program

NYU Mental Health Prevention Program

Jed Foundation’s Prescription for Prevention

Promote Mental Health Awareness & Well-Being &

Prevent Suicide• Communication• Policies• Risk Surveillance• Leadership

Screening to:• ID high-risk students• Provide (determine) campus landscape• Work proactively

Mental Health Service to:• Train providers• Refer cases• Institute procedures• Enhance accessibility• Do prevention & outreach

Means Restriction to:• Limit access to potentially lethal means

Crisis Management to:• Establish policies/ programs that respond to suicidal/ high-risk behavior• Respond w/ comprehensive postvention• Create interface between disciplinary process/MHS

Life Skills Development to:• Improve students’ management of rigors of college life• Equip students with tools to recognize and manage stressors

Education Programs to:• Train gatekeepers and students to

• Identify signs of distress• Take steps for help

• Train confidentiality/legal

Social Marketing to:• Stimulate cultural change to de-stigmatize, remove barriers, encourage help- seeking behavior• Target high-risk & general pop

Social Network Promotion to:• Reduce isolation; encourage belonging• Encourage development of groups within larger campus community

NYU Mental Health Prevention Program

Social marketing Increased access to MH professionals Crisis response

Social Marketing Interactive emails on MH issues-- GoalQuest All newly enrolled students attend reality program highlighting MH issues

Produced by NYU actors/writers

NYU Mental Health Prevention Program

Increased Access to MH Professionals Email access to a wellness social worker 24-hour hotline staffed by NYU social workers by day and MH professionals from Protocol on nights and weekends Walk-in hours during evenings and weekends

NYU Mental Health Prevention Program

Crisis Response In-house mobile crisis team

Clinical social worker 24-hours/day Face-to-face evaluations Transportation to hospital if necessary

NYU Mental Health Prevention Program

Gatekeeper Training Program

Gatekeeper Program “Campus Connect,” original curriculum Suicide prevention grant from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Basic suicide statistics, facts, and warning signs

Importance of relationship with student

Prepare responders for the emotional intensity of a student crisis Focus on listening and empathy Experiential exercises (e.g., photo exercise)

Gatekeeper Program

Assessment of acquired skills to deal with a student in crisis

Pre- workshop: equivalent to first-year undergrad psychology major Post-workshop: close to a master’s -level counselor Value of experiential exercises

Gatekeeper Program

Six Model Programs Columbia: Residence Halls-Based Counseling Georgetown: Postvention Program University of Illinois: Mandatory Suicide Assessment University of Washington: Suicide Prevention Program New York University: Mental Health Prevention Program (Jed Foundation) Syracuse University: Gatekeeper Training Program

Creating Healthier Campus

Communities: A Tiered Model for Improving Student

Mental Health

Tier 3Creating Healthy Learning Environments:A Comprehensive Approach to Prevention

Tier 2Targeted Interventions

Tier 1Critical Mental

Health and Crisis Response Services

Questions?

Small-Group Breakout