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Campus Community,
Students are experiencing higher levels of anxiety, depression and general mental health concerns than ever before. But, who do they turn to when they need help? Research suggests that students talk to and lean on peers or trusted people, in addition to a therapist or professional services. That means the first person to see signs of distress are often a roommate, friends or even a University employee.
For the health and wellbeing of our community, we all need to know about the mental health resources available on campus, even if we aren't the ones that directly need those services. The Department of Public Safety has listed mental health resources available to students and staff in the edition of the newsletter. Please take some time to review them.
Good Luck on finals,
Interim Chief Erik Swanson
Department of Public Safety
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Mental Health Resources
While early engagement and ongoing support for those struggling with mental health issues is ideal, we have several services available to any student who is in an emergency or crisis situation. These include the University’s 24-hour crisis hotline (call or text), Boynton’s drop-in urgent crisis clinic, and Let’s Talk. These are in addition to connecting students to regular counseling support at Student Counseling Services, Boynton’s Mental Health Clinic or, for those who may need additional support navigating barriers, our Care Program.
Free and confidential mental health support services are also available to faculty and staff.
For an immediate response:
988 - A crisis line available to anyone on 24/7 and 365 basis
911 - Police, Fire and EMS
Resources for Students:
Boynton Health Comprehensive health care supporting the physical, emotional, and social wellbeing of the UMN campus community.
Student Counseling Services Address mental health concerns, academic challenges, and life skill development.
UMN Crisis Line If you wish to talk to someone about what to do in a mental health crisis, call the 24-hour Crisis Line at 612-301-4673.
Help Compass Online Resource Guide Click this link to be directed to the University Mental Health online support page.
Additional Student Resources Click the link to the left to access more resources available to you as a student.
Resources for Staff:
Amwell offers virtual behavioral health care services, including therapy and psychiatry, for medical plan members.
Wellbeing Program You can find resources to help manage stress and enhance your resilience.
Additional Staff Resources Click the link to the left to access more resources available to you as staff or faculty.
Beyond those resources, here are some training resources that focus on supporting to those experiencing mental health challenges.
Free/open to public (including friends, family)
The “Supporting Student Mental Health” micro training videos teach how to recognize when a student may need support and how to access the right resources.
MentalHealth@UMN: A website where you answer a few anonymous questions to get the right help right now.
Employee/student availability only
Mental health training for faculty and staff to support students is available from Boynton Health.
More student, faculty and staff resources are available on the Mental Health & Wellbeing menu on MyU.
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Join DPS for our “Be Kind to your Mind" event, where you can gather helpful tips and information to create strategies to cope with stress, build resilience, and take care of your mental health.
DPS, along with various campus and student organizations, will be available to connect and support you with the resources you need to be successful. All students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to attend.
Event Date: Weds. December 11th
Event Time: 1pm - 4pm
Event Location: Off-Campus Safety Center (Below Annie's Parlour - Dinkytown)
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Join DPS at the Off Campus Safety Center for a visit from Santa, complete with hot cocoa and pictures with Santa in the unique and festively decorated safety center.
We hear there may be a couple other guests along for the event making a surprise visit for photo opportunities.
Event Date: Sat. December 14th
Event Time: 10am - 1pm
Event Location: Off-Campus Safety Center (Below Annie's Parlour - Dinkytown)
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Reserve Space at the Off Campus Safety Center | |
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Did you know you can reserve space at the Off-Campus Safety Center? That's right, consider hosting your next student group meeting, department celebration, or lunch at the Off-Campus Safety Center. To reserve space, scan the QR code below or visit the link listed below. We look forward to having you at the safety center!
z.umn.edu/OFSCreserve
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UMPD Freezin' Gophs to Plunge in February @ Lake Nokomis | |
That's right, team UMPD FREEZIN' GOPHS will be once again raising money for Special Olympics of MN to directly support the incredible Special Olympic athletes right here in our state! People ask us how they can help to support the cause - here are a few ways you can support us and the athletes - attend to watch the plungers, plunge into the water, or donate to support Special Olympic athletes. To donate, simply click the button below and it will bring you to our donation page. Thanks for your support! | |
DPS to take over Gopher Chauffeur on Jan 21st (Spring Semester) | |
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Have you heard? At the end of the fall semester, Boynton Health will be transitioning service of Gopher Chauffeur to the Department of Public Safety.
The Department of Public Safety will be providing this service to campus starting Jan 21, at the start of the spring semester. More information coming soon!
YOUR RIDE. YOUR SAFETY. OUR MISSION.
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DPS Video Series: Police Response to Mental Health Calls | |
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This video depicts the police response to mental health calls and includes sensitive content such as suicidality and the potential for violence with firearms. As such, you should only view this video when you are ready to contemplate this content.
This micro training video "The Police Response to Mental Health Calls" shows what happens after a caller contacts 911 for a mental health crisis. Viewers will learn what type of information they'll be asked to provide 911, how police interact with persons of concern, and about the training Minnesota police officers take related to mental health crises.
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Welcome Officer Geoff Chang to the Community Engagement Team | |
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Please join us in welcoming Officer Geoff Chang as our newest member of our Community Engagement team. Officer Chang has been a police officer for almost 19 years. In the last year he has served as patrol officer at the University of Minnesota Police Department.
Officer Chang shared "I was inspired to enter law enforcement by my father who is a retired police officer. He encouraged me to serve and protect others and advised me that this is one of the greatest honors in contributing to the safety and wellbeing of the community. I have served in many different capacities in my law enforcement career, in addition to collateral duties such as SWAT and the Mobile Field Force team. My goals are to continue to foster relationships and work together with the campus community to move forward towards a safer environment."
Officer Chang is a graduate of Century Community College and obtained his bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s University. Officer Chang lives with his family in the greater east metro.
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Here's what you missed... | |
UMPD & DPS attended the MN Asian Peace Officers Association Gala
Members of UMPD and DPS attended the MN Asian Peace Officers Association gala. Chief Clark delivered an inspiring keynote on Family, Fitness, Nutrition, and Sleep, and UMPD Officer Vang did an outstanding job as the event MC.
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Extra UMPD Patrols in Dinkytown
UMPD extra patrols in Dinkytown will continue throughout the year.
Our officers are out with a visible presence in Dinkytown at night in addition to increased daily patrols throughout the area.
If you see suspicious or criminal activity please call 911 or report it to the nearest police officer.
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DPS helping with Dinkytown cleanup
Members of DPS helped a group of students with a Dinkytown cleanup project for one of their class projects.
The cleanup resulted in over 8 bags of garbage removed.
Thank you to the students involved who invited our team to take part in this cleanup project.
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Extended study hours @ Safety Center
Leading up to fall finals this year DPS extended study hours on weekends, so students can study in a comfortable, safe space.
There are two weekends remaining of the extended study hours, so students feel free to stop by.
The hours on each weekend day are 2:30pm - 11pm.
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Cops & Coffee Events
The Department of Public Safety held Cops & Coffee events all throughout our Twin Cities Campus.
Events occurred in pop up locations on East Bank, West Bank, and Saint Paul campuses.
In addition to the large cops and donut events the CET team held multiple pop up events throughout the fall semester all over campus and at the safety center in Dinkytown.
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DPS Career Fairs
Officers from UMPD along with other DPS members attended multiple career fairs in addition to hosting a Women in Law Enforcement career fair here on campus.
Our team is working hard to recruit the best talent, with a focus on service to help keep our entire campus community safe.
If you are interested in an career with DPS, please check out the opportunities with us here.
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DPS hosted Dinkytown business leaders
DPS hosted Dinkytown Business Leaders, Minneapolis Police, and University Government Relations at the Off Campus Safety Center to discuss the Dinkytown area, the business community, and safety concerns that are impacting the off campus community.
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UMPD through (Intern)ational Eyes
with Nithya Murikinati
Nithya Murikinati joined our CET team as our ISSS Student Intern. Nithya is currently pursuing an MS in Data Science. Her role focuses on partnering with our international students regarding safety concerns and providing safety education and resources.
Please reach out to Nithya with any international student questions or concerns.
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Recruiting & Mentorship
with Christina Mignone
What a great fall we had Gophers!!
We enjoyed having you all back on campus!
We have attended several career fairs on campus and visited colleges and high schools around the state. It has been great to continue to build connections within our U community and off campus to help with recruitment and help develop a strong candidate pool. Thank you to all who have applied for open positions here at DPS!
We have been planning for 2025 recruitment events, make sure to check out the UMN Campus Career Fairs page for spring, we hope to see you all there.
Stay warm!
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Learn more about Community Liaison Dillon Gherna here | |
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Community Connections
with Dillon Gherna
As we wrap up the busy fall semester here on campus, I want to start my message off with a sincere thank you to the many students, faculty and staff that our team has engaged with either at events, at the new Off-Campus Safety Center or throughout our community support projects.
The busy finals period and holiday season are upon us, I wish you luck in your fall finals and hope that each of you have a very safe and happy holiday season! Please take care of yourselves and reach out if you need help!
Our team shares important resources and information on our social media channels, I would encourage you to follow us @UMNPUBLICSAFETY
Additionally, I am here as a resource for the entire University of Minnesota community, building relationships, providing resources, and supporting our collective goals to keep U safe.
Don't hesitate to reach out anytime.
Go Gophers!
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2024 Aggravated Assaults: 4 on Police Officer, 2 Domestic, 6 With a Dangerous Weapon, 2 Significant Bodily Harm. | For 2024, nearly half the burglaries have been at the steam tunnels. 71% of 2024 burglaries have been burglaries of a business, which includes the steam tunnels. 29% of 2024 burglary incidents were residential burglaries | |
Welcome our new DPS team members
Pictured above (Left to right): University Security Workforce Manager- Andrew Swartz and UMPD's Operations Manager- Chris Olson
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Self Defense Workshops
with McKenna Kipp
Self Defense Workshops are offered throughout the academic year. They cover personal safety awareness and how to stay vigilant. Participants are shown simple self-defense moves and are given a chance to practice.
Students, faculty and staff can sign up for upcoming workshops.
We have upcoming workshops at the University Recreation and Wellness Center. To sign up to attend a workshop please follow this link HERE
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BLUE EMERGENCY KIOSKS
If you see the blue emergency kiosks and need help, press the help button.
The blue kiosks directly connect you with a DPS 911 dispatcher and provides the exact location of the kiosk, as well as the ability to view the camera on the kiosk.
There are over 60 blue emergency kiosks on campus located outdoors, tunnels and in Dinkytown.
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624-WALK (Safety Escort Service)
Request a safe walk from a trained University Security employee, please call 612-624-WALK (9255), or 4-WALK from any campus phone. You can also visit this link to request online. Available 24/7/365.
RAVE Guardian App
Rave Guardian is a free phone app that provides University of Minnesota students, faculty and staff with access to virtual safety walking escorts and other helpful safety and security resources on campus.
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SMART 911 APP
Smart911 is a free service that allows you to provide additional details that 9-1-1 dispatchers may need in order to assist you during an emergency. Anytime you make an emergency call from a phone registered with your Safety Profile, the 9-1-1 systems recognizes your phone number and automatically displays your profile on the screen of the dispatcher.
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Active Threat Presentations & Online Training Course | | |
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The Department of Public Safety offers an online Active Threat training course through canvas. To take this training, please click the button below.
*Note: You must have a UM email address to enroll in the training*
The police department also offers trainings and information on what to do if there is an active threat on campus.
To set up an in-person active threat training, please fill out a Community Outreach Officer form and indicate you would like an active threat presentation.
Officer Geoff Chang conducts the trainings at your location.
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Scan the QR code or click the button to the take the online active threat training | |
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The policing climate and community expectations continue to evolve and change. Our team wants to connect with you, we are in a time where positive collective efforts are needed.
To learn more about Community Engagement contact Director Nicholas Juarez at juar0008@umn.edu
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