At a time when pandemic-related stressors have increased mental health disorders among younger Americans, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has awarded Portland State University’s Campus Suicide Prevention Collaborative a $306,000 grant over three years to develop a comprehensive approach to enhance mental services for PSU students. The Regional Research Institute (RRI) within the School of Social Work will track and assess the project’s implementation, sharing outcomes and lessons with the Collaborative for program planning.
The PSU Campus Suicide Prevention Collaborative is a joint project of the School of Social Work and the Center for Student Health and Counseling (SHAC). It will include students, faculty and staff, providing suicide prevention outreach, training, screening, assessments and/or services to the 23,979 enrolled students at PSU. The program will develop suggested prevention and postvention protocols for all departments on campus, while also offering Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Trainings to clinical faculty, staff, and students on campus. It will target high-risk groups of students for these prevention strategies, including those in recovery from alcohol or other drug use, those who are veterans or have served in the military, LGBTQ+ students, international students, and students living with autism.
SHAC will screen 800 students for suicide risk and provide services to all students who identify as at-risk during the three year project period. The anticipated project period is September 30, 2021 through September 29, 2024.
Portland State University is one of 33 colleges to received awards from SAMHSA through its Garrett Lee Smith Campus Suicide Prevention grant program. The program is named after the son of former Oregon Senator Gordon Smith (serving from 1997 – 2009), a college student who died by suicide at age 22 in 2003. SAMHSA is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. It was established by Congress in 1992 to make substance use and mental disorder information, services, and research more accessible.
Congratulations to RRI and SHAC on this successful grant that will help Portland State University’s community assist our high-risk students struggling with stress and mental health.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255. Young adults age 21 and under may want to call or text the YOUTHLINE 4-10pm PST at 877-968-8491, text teen2teen to 839863, or Chat at www.oregonyouthline.org. SHAC also offers counseling services to support the emotional health and wellbeing of PSU students. Call 503.725.2800 first to schedule your appointment. No problem is too big or too small!