Thursday, November 21, 2024
11/21/2024
More Aware is a comprehensive, collaborative, innovative, and unified approach to improving student mental health and wellness across the Kent State University (KSU) eight-campus system. Evidenced-based gatekeeper trainings, mental health screenings, and peer-led wellness programs and educational campaigns, designed for a diverse group of students and including those most at-risk, are the defining features of the initiative. KSU has approximately 36,264 students and 4,582 faculty/staff. Healthy Minds Survey found KSU students have a higher rate of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation compared to college students nationally. Online HANDS Depression screening through KSU between 2016-2020 found 35% to 40% of people responded they thought about wanting to end their life in the past two weeks “some of the time” to “all of time.” The University Registrar reported 18 suicides and 8 overdose deaths from 2016-2020. More Aware will focus on five key areas. 1. Infrastructure: The initiative will collaborate with campus and community stakeholders to support a comprehensive and coordinated infrastructure to expand and enhance mental health services and programming, increase help-seeking behavior, and reduce negative attitudes related to mental illness. 2. Gatekeeper Training: The initiative will offer comprehensive gatekeeper options for students, faculty, and staff: Mental Health First Aid, Kognito (versions for students and faculty & staff), QPR, and V-A-R. (Gatekeeper certifications: 4,200/year; 12,600 total) 3. Mental Health Screening: The initiative will promote online/in-person mental and substance abuse screenings and distribute mental health and substance use educational materials at in-person screenings. (Screenings: 4,000 year 1; 5,000 year 2, 6,000 year 3; 15,000 total) 4. Awareness of Mental Health Services: The initiative will work closely with the KSU CARES Center and Student Multicultural Center to unify mental health promotional efforts and ensure the print and social media campaign is appropriate for a diverse group of students. Hear to Help, a campaign that identifies those who have taken a gatekeeper training, will be marketed and made available to other institutions. (Promotional views: 100,000 year 1; 150,000 year 2; 200,000 year 3; 450,000 total) 5. Disseminate Educational Materials: Eight U Goods, peer-led programs designed to enhance mental wellness, increase resilience, and improve coping strategies, will be held each year. The most successful U Goods will be manualized and made available to other institutions. Peer mentors will educate and connect students to resources on mental health and substance use disorders. (Students receiving peer support: 200 year 1; 300 year 2; 400 year 3; 900 total) Ongoing data will evaluate the effectiveness of the initiative and guide its implementation.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
