Oxy Suicide Prevention Program - The Oxy Suicide Prevention Program is a coordinated, collaborative effort to bring intentional, comprehensive suicide-prevention, mental health promotion, and substance misuse harm reduction services to Occidental College (Oxy). By building capacity for data collection and clinical intervention, increasing opportunities for peer education and student-led prevention efforts, and expanding training for suicide-prevention and referral skills-building across campus, we will address student needs and build robust prevention, identification, and referral support related to mental and substance use disorders and suicidality among Oxy students. The project will take an evidence-based, public health approach to address the needs of all students, with a focus on first-year (27%), students of color (46%), and LGBTQIA+ identifying (46%) student populations, as well as students in Oxy's study abroad and international programs, all of whom are at greater risk of negative outcomes from substance misuse, mental health distress, and have reported feeling less sense of connectedness and belonging than their counterparts on campus. The overarching goals of this project are to increase help-seeking behaviors for mental health and substance use issues, to enhance belonging and connectedness among students, and to reduce suicide and mental and substance use disorders. There are four main objectives: 1. Using a trauma-informed lens, enhance clinical capacity to identify and intervene with students at risk for suicide, depression, serious mental illness/serious emotional disturbances, and/or substance misuse, and connect students to treatment and recovery resources when needed. -Emmons Wellness Center (Emmons) will implement an SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment) model, train clinical staff in Brief Motivational Interviewing, and integrate DAST-10 and CCAPS-36 screening tools during clinical visits. Emmons will also work with student groups and partner departments to develop supportive resources for students already in recovery who are particularly marginalized on college campuses. 2. Expand our understanding of students’ current mental health, substance use behaviors and experiences, risk factors for suicide, and Oxy’s capacity to mitigate these factors through robust data collection and assessment. -Emmons will work with the JED Foundation, in collaboration with Oxy’s Office of Institutional Research and Assessment and a newly created Well-Being Committee, to administer baseline and recurring assessments identifying student mental health and substance use needs and behaviors, as well as assess community needs, and strategically plan and build infrastructure for data collection that leads to measurable improvements in student mental health and a more connected campus community. 3. Utilize evidence-based practices to promote mental well-being and prevent suicide through harm reduction strategies, suicide prevention trainings, educational programming, and restricting access to means. -Emmons will develop and implement suicide-prevention and referral skills trainings for students, staff, and faculty gatekeepers, to ensure the campus community feels comfortable addressing issues of distressed and/or at-risk students, and referring them to the appropriate resources in a timely manner. Emmons will implement awareness campaigns, educational materials, and peer-led outreach efforts dedicated to mental health promotion, suicide-prevention, and harm reduction. 4. Provide meaningful, inclusive, student-led, substance-free programming to foster positive community and connection, and a sense of belonging among students. -Emmons will develop a microgrant program in which student organizations can receive funding to implement peer-led programming, which will provide spaces for students to learn about various mental health topics, coping and life skills, and to foster connection and community building.
