Summary of the SPRC White Paper: Promoting Mental Health and
Preventing Suicide in College and University Settings
By Lori Bradshaw
Promoting Mental Health and Preventing Suicide
in College and University Settings (2004) by the
Suicide Prevention Resource Center consists of:
-
A review of the epidemiology of college student suicide and the factors
that contribute to suicidal behavior among college students,
-
A sample of current suicide prevention efforts, and
-
Recommendations for how colleges and universities can promote mental health
and prevent suicidal behavior among their students.
Key issues covered are:
- The need for improvements in access to mental health services and insurance
coverage on college campuses.
- The challenges and specific mental health needs of special populations, including
international students, commuter students, older students, gay, lesbian, bisexual
and transgender students.
The white paper also examines prevention strategies for college campuses.
This section emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach and includes:
- Components of a comprehensive suicide prevention program.
- Leadership, screening, crisis management, mental health services, means restriction,
social marketing and education.
- Efficacy and effectiveness of specific strategies.
- Requirements for creating a structure and framework to
support suicide prevention on college campuses.
The paper culminates in ten strategies to support efforts of colleges and
universities to prevent suicide.
Promoting Mental Health and Preventing Suicide in College and University
Settings is available for reading and downloading on the SPRC website
at
http://www.sprc.org/library/college_sp_whitepaper.pdf
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Webography: College Mental Health Promotion and Suicide
Prevention
By Lori Bradshaw
Active Minds on Campus
http://www.activemindsoncampus.org
Active Minds on Campus is a student-run mental health awareness, education,
and advocacy organization designed for the college campus. The site contains
information and materials for student chapters of the organization, including
fact sheets, a mailing list, and information on how to start a chapter.
CampusBlues.com
http://www.campusblues.com
CampusBlues.com is designed to facilitate student awareness and use of school
resources. The site contains information for students about mental and emotional
health issues and how to get help.
College Student Suicide
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
http://www.afsp.org/research/articles/lipsch2.html
This research article discusses mental health issues a college student
may experience, the seriousness of the issue of college student suicide, and
the need for action to prevent the problem.
Finding Hope & Help: College Student and Depression Pilot Initiative
National Mental Health Association (NMHA)
http://www.nmha.org/camh/college/index.cfm
This site provides information about Finding Hope and Help: the College
Student and Depression Initiative, NMHA's efforts to address mental health issues
facing college-age students, including pilot sites and partner information.
The site also contains links to brochures about depression and other mental
health issues.
The Jed Foundation
http://www.jedfoundation.org
The Jed Foundation is a nonprofit public charity committed to reducing the
youth suicide rate and improving the mental health safety net provided to college
students nationwide. The site has a news section, a facts section, and a section
for parents as well as students.
Safeguarding Your Students Against Suicide
National Mental Health Association and The Jed Foundation
http://www.nmha.org/suicide/report.pdf
As a follow-up to the National Strategy, a panel of leading experts from various
disciplines convened in 2002 to participate in Expanding the Safety Net:
A Roundtable on Vulnerability, Depressive Symptoms, and Suicidal Behavior on
College Campuses. This report is a guide to inform campus adminstrators
and campus communities how to help prevent suicide among college students.
The Truth About Suicide: Real Stories of Depression in College
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
http://www.afsp.org/education/collegefilm/index_1.htm
This Web site contains information on how to obtain the tape,
The Truth About Suicide: Real Stories of Depression in College, as well as
a downloadable facilitator's guide and feedback forms for viewers and facilitators.
Ulifeline
The Jed Foundation
http://www.ulifeline.org/index.php
This site is designed for college student use. The site contains a mental health
library, drug information database, crisis center information, individual campus
health service information, and an online self-assessment, as well as information
on how to get help for a friend.
What Do These Students Have in Common?
National Institute of Mental Health
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/students.cfm
This booklet describes how the stresses of college can lead to serious mental
health issues, with information on symptoms, causes, treatments, and how to
get help. This resource gives personal accounts of what it is like to live
with depression and mental illness and tells people how to get help for themselves
or someone they know.
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