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Eastern Michigan University Awarded Federal Grant to Continue Efforts in Areas of Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Promotion(Targeted News Service Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) YPSILANTI, Mich., Nov. 6 -- Eastern Michigan University issued the following news release: Suicide prevention and mental health counseling are two critical services offered to students on many college campuses. At the same time, national student survey data show that many students who are in emotional distress and consider suicide don't reach out for help from family, friends or professionals. Negative attitudes and perceptions about individuals with mental illness keep some of the most vulnerable students from seeking help. The federal government's Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) hopes to change that, thanks to a campus suicide prevention grant, through the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act, to support and expand efforts on college campuses across the country. Eastern Michigan University was recently awarded a three-year $305,830 federal SAMHSA grant to continue its efforts in the areas of suicide prevention and mental health promotion using a comprehensive and coordinated network of students, faculty, staff and community resources. The award leverages an additional $340,000 in local funding to support this important project. Eastern is one of only 15 institutions nationwide and the only school in Michigan to receive funding. "Our proposed project, called "SAFE Now: Stigma and Fear End Now," will serve Eastern Michigan's 23,000 student body, along with targeted efforts toward our LGBT students, student veterans and students in the Honors College," said Ellen Gold, assistant vice president for student well-being and project director. "Suicide prevention is a community responsibility. The university-wide project will involve a wide range of participants and include efforts in the areas of awareness, education, training, crisis response and intervention." The campaign, which builds on EMU's current mental health and suicide prevention initiatives, will include a SAFE Now social norms marketing campaign with support from three student organizations: Active Minds, the Student Wellness Advisory Board and the Student Leader Group. The campaign will address the importance of changing attitudes that focus on reducing stigma, fear and myths related to mental illness, suicide and seeking care. Active Minds is a national, non-profit organization that empowers students to speak openly about mental health in order to educate others and encourage others to seek help. The Student Wellness Advisory Board is a student-run organization that advocates for health and wellness of all students on campus. Members of the Student Leader Group advocate for students and provides support to the administration and EMU Board of Regents on behalf of the student body. Experts from the Suicide Prevention Resource Center have said that available data rank suicide as the second leading cause of death among college students, and that 15 percent of graduate and 18 percent of undergraduate students have seriously considered attempting suicide in their lifetime. Nearly 50 percent of these same students report multiple episodes of serious suicidal thoughts. Suicidal thoughts are only one part of a larger mental health problem on campuses, Gold said. Depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions can create barriers for students pursuing their educational goals. This is not unique to EMU, but impacts students nationally. The grant will support EMU to focus on four goals: * Increase the number of at-risk students who seek help * Reduce negative attitudes and myths about mental illness and suicide that are framed in stigma, fear and a lack of accurate information * Increase the number of students, faculty and staff who are able to recognize and respond to students experiencing mental health distress * Create of a community network of students, faculty and staff, along with campus organizations and departments that work together to promote suicide prevention. "I have witnessed students experiencing mental health concerns over the course of my college career at EMU," said Desmond Miller, EMU student body president. "Students want more programming associated with mental health awareness, but unfortunately, we are limited in resources. "This grant will not only change the lives of many of our students by encouraging those who suffer from mental health concerns to seek help, but will also help to end the negative stigma attached to mental health. The grant will also help students to achieve success both inside and outside of the classroom." Eastern Michigan has recently experienced tremendous growth in its sponsored research activity, with award values up more than 80 percent over the same period last year. Grants and contracts fund faculty and student research, scholarly and creative activity, and public service projects, along with instructional support programs at EMU. Much of Eastern's sponsored research activity is applied in nature, addressing real-world problems that affect our communities and daily lives of citizens. TNS 30TagarumaMar-141108-4929290 30TagarumaMar (c) 2014 Targeted News Service |