Friday, November 22, 2024
11/22/2024
In response to the Funding Opportunity entitled Campus Suicide Prevention Grant Program (SM-24-004), Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) is submitting a single application to support a comprehensive public health evidence-based approach. The project will provide services at WSSU, a Historically Black College & University (HBCU) located in Winston-Salem, NC. The project title is WSSU Behavioral Health Enhancement And Lifesaving Tactics for Higher Education Young Adults (B-HEALTHY). Requesting $102,000 in annual funding from September 30, 2024, through September 30, 2027, Project B-HEALTHY’s primary goal is to enhance current mental health and substance use disorder prevention and treatment services provided to WSSU students through education and the expansion of the existing network infrastructure to identify students who are at risk for suicide and suicide attempts, prevent and reduce suicide and mental/substance use disorders, promote help-seeking behaviors, and reduce stigma so students can complete their studies. The measurable objectives for Project B-HEALTHY are to (1) expand the existing clinical network infrastructure by increasing community behavioral health partnerships and cultivating interdisciplinary collaborations with the counseling center, Project CHAMP, and community behavioral health agencies; (2) increase the utilization of mental health and substance use disorder prevention and treatment services for WSSU students through promoting existing policies and training student ambassadors to provide outreach services, lead mental health workshops, and promote awareness on campus concerning the availability of mental health and crisis services; (3) promote help-seeking behaviors and reduce stigma through providing evidenced based training, educational seminars, and outreach services, and disseminate information to faculty, staff, and students on the WSSU campus to respond effectively and make appropriate referrals for students experiencing mental and substance use disorders, distress, crisis, or at risk of suicide; and (4) improve the identification and treatment of at-risk college students by conducting research and administering comprehensive assessments, including screening and evaluating for mental health and substance use disorders in enrolled students. The format of Project B-HEALTHY will include an interdisciplinary cross-campus and community collaboration to support WSSU students and assist in their overall mental health wellness in four diverse ways: interdisciplinary collaborations, peer support to other classmates with the same resources, education and training, and increased screening and evaluations. WSSU focuses on educating students from nationally underrepresented backgrounds with a student population where 83% are African American and 93% of the freshmen identify as ethnic minorities. According to the WSSU Quarterly Insight Deck, 58% of students reported having no formal mental health support, and 74% reported not seeking support on campus. Between August 1, 2023, and February 12, 2024, 20% of WSSU students considered suicide in the past six months, and 26% considered self-harm in the past six months. At WSSU, 70% of our undergraduate students are first-generation, many less likely to persist to degree completion than non-first-generation students. Considering the previous research on first-year and first-generation students, coupled with the mental health data, incorporating more experiences with mental health and wellness programs into their college experience will increase awareness and decrease the number of adverse events. This project will address the need to enhance behavioral health services at WSSU, reduce suicide and suicide attempts, reduce the stigma associated with mental health, substance use disorders, and suicide, increase protective factors that promote mental health, reduce risk factors for substance use disorders and suicide, and improve the identification and treating students.
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).
