Oregon State University

The overall goal of this project is to create an effective and sufficient suicide prevention infrastructure for the OSU-Cascades campus in order to promote student mental health and to identify, support and refer students at risk of suicide and alcohol and substance abuse. Four goals are important to this project: (1) enhance mental health services for all college students, including those at risk for suicide, depression, serious mental illness and/or substance abuse; (2) prevent mental and substance use disorders; (3) promote help-seeking behavior and reduce negative public attitudes; and (4) improve the identification and treatment of at-risk college students so they can successfully complete their studies. Key strategies include the development of policies and procedures to assess, support, and treat students at high risk of suicide and alcohol and substance use disorders; development of linkages between University services, crisis support, and behavioral health services provided by the broader community; the creation of web-based information and supports; training in suicide prevention and alcohol and substance abuse prevention for faculty, students, and administrators; and specialized training for our mental health counselor in the assessment and management of suicidal risk.