Efforts under the Student Mental Health Initiative include:
- Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), a two-day suicide prevention gatekeeper program that helps caregivers to feel more comfortable, confident and competent in helping to curb the immediate risk of suicide
- Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), a two-day public education program about how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders
- Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR), a one-two hour training program about the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade and refer someone to obtain help.
Both the ASIST intervention program and the MHFA public education initiative are shared with Humboldt State faculty, staff, administrators and students two to four times a year. The university’s office of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) hosted an ASIST training in March, in collaboration with the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
“The training was incredibly well received,” says Jennifer Sanford, director of Counseling and Psychological Services. “Plans are already in place to host another ASIST training for Residence Life staff in July. We are planning to host three MHFA trainings on campus between June and January, and will likely host a fourth in the spring of 2014. The HSU community can expect the shorter suicide prevention training, QPR, to be promoted heavily to students, as well as to faculty and staff, beginning fall 2013.”
To sign-up for all three trainings, visit training.humboldt.edu/.
The Counseling and Psychological Services website, humboldt.edu/counseling, lists multiple suicide prevention resources and information about related subjects, including messages of hope, according to Sanford. “We encourage people to check out the “Prezis” that cover a range of topics, including alcohol and pot use, anxiety, panic attacks, assertiveness, body image, break-ups, healthy relationships, depression, sleep, happiness and homesickness.”
Other campus initiatives, scheduled to begin this fall, include the Life Skills Workshop Series, geared to freshmen and workshops and groups geared to Emotional Brain Training, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Mindsight. Regular updates are posted on humboldt.edu/counseling.