UAA receives a grant of $306,000 for campus suicide prevention

 

UAA is among 21 colleges and universities receiving funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to assist in preventing suicide and enhancing mental health services for students in crisis. The funds are to go toward training programs and seminars for students and campus personnel as well as promoting the National Suicide Prevention lifeline.

"Suicide is preventable," said SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde in an article on Medical News Today. "This new grant will help ensure that students know that there are places they can turn for help even before they are at a crisis point."

UAA's grant in particular will be awarded to the Center for Behavioral Health Research and Services (CBHRS) through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Prevention Fund and can be used over three years. In addition, SAMHSA requires an institutional match. In UAA's case, the match is being generously provided by the UAA Office of the Provost and the College of Arts and Sciences.

Formally called the Integrated Suicide Prevention Initiative, and with staff from CBHRS at the helm, the project will collaborate with many campus partners, including but not limited to the Dean of Students Office, Department of Residence Life, Student Health and Counseling Center, Psychological Services Center, AHAINA, Student Development Counseling and Support Services, CAFE and the University Police Department. Together, these departments will focus on five primary goals:

1. Increase training opportunities related to suicide prevention and mental health promotion on the UAA campus for staff, students and faculty.
2. Increase collaboration among logical campus partners for purposes of delivering suicide prevention messages.
3. Increase the availability and use of relevant educational materials to improve suicide risk reduction.
4. Increase help-seeking among students in a non-stigmatizing environment.
5. Increase promotion of the Alaska Careline, part of the National Suicide Prevention Hotline network.

For more information, visit the website or contact Dr. Bridget Hanson at afblh1@uaa.alaska.edu or (907)786-6381.

For a full list of grant recipients and their amounts, visit here.