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Your source for the latest tips, information, and current campus safety resources from the NCCPS.
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| Get involved with #MIAW. |
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Mental Health Awareness
During the first full week of October, the
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
, an organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness, encourages participation in Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW). While mental health issues are important to address year round, this
week provides an opportunity to celebrate mental health recovery, fight stigma, provide support, educate the public, and advocate for equal care. This year, NAMI is calling on everyone to shine a light on mental illness and replace stigma with hope and understanding
by taking the #
StigmaFree pledge
.
To help bring awareness and education to students, faculty, and staff about mental illness, colleges and universities can use the following resources provided on NAMI's #MIAW pages:
- Graphics and Print Files - Download multimedia graphics and print materials and use Facebook and Twitter images to help spread awareness.
- Mental Illness Awareness Week Activities - Activities vary by NAMI State Organization and NAMI Affiliate and may occur before or after the formal week, particularly if multiple events are planned.
- Resource Toolkit - Includes the NAMI proclamation, a customizable press release, a letter to the editor, a PR toolkit, faith community outreach, and sample social media messages.
Law Enforcement officers are increasingly becoming first responders to people experiencing mental health crisis. To better prepare for these encounters, many agencies are involved with Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT). The CIT is an innovative first-responder model of police-based crisis intervention with community, health care, and advocacy partnerships that provides
law enforcement-based crisis intervention training
for assisting those individuals with a mental illness. To learn more, visit NAMI's
law enforcement and mental health web page
.
NAMI, in partnership with
The Jed Foundation (JED)
, an organization working to promote emotional health and prevent suicide among college students, recently released
Starting the Conversation: College and Your Mental Health
(PDF), a guide to help students and parents talk about mental health. JED reports that
one in five young adults is living with a mental health condition and
a
pproximately 75% of mental health conditions begin by age 24. "College is an incredible time in a young adult's life, but also a stressful time when the vast majority of mental illnesses first appear. Yet, when students prepare to go off to college, they often get vaccines and families talk about nutrition or exercise, but skip addressing mental health needs," said Mary Giliberti, J.D., NAMI Chief Executive Officer. This guide offers key takeaways for parents and students navigating this transitional time:
- Mental Health Conditions Are Common - Feelings of anxiety, depression and mental health conditions are common, and recovery is possible. When facing a mental illness, students should know they are not alone.
- Common Signs of a Mental Health Condition - Mental health conditions have 10 common warning signs that should be taken seriously. Parents and students should learn how to recognize the warning signs of mental illness in themselves and in others.
- Mental Health Care on Campus - Students should be aware of the mental health resources and care options available to them, such as health clinics on campus, and should not hesitate to ask for help.
- Health Information Privacy Laws and Rules - Health privacy laws prevent mental health professionals from sharing sensitive information with families. Having a support system that is aware and involved will better enable students to overcome mental health challenges.
Campus professionals can visit JED's website for
research and programs
relevant to campuses of any size, location, or culture.
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Garrett Lee Smith (GLS) Campus Suicide Prevention Grant
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services is now accepting applications for fiscal year 2017 Garrett Lee Smith (GLS) Campus Suicide Prevention grants. The purpose of this program is to facilitate a comprehensive public health approach to prevent suicide in institutions of higher education. The grant is designed to assist colleges and universities in building essential capacity and infrastructure to support expanded efforts to promote the wellness and help-seeking of all students. It is also intended to enhance services for students with mental and behavioral health problems, such as depression and substance use/abuse that put them at risk for suicide and suicide attempts.
Both public and private institutions may apply. Entities that have previously been awarded a GLS Campus Suicide Prevention Grant are not eligible to apply.
Applications are due by Wednesday, December 7, 2016
. Visit the
SAMHSA web page
for additional award information and to access the application materials.
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#ThisIsDV: October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Each October, we raise awareness about the important issue of domestic violence. Domestic violence affects men and women of all ages, races, ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, and religions, and happens regardless of sexual orientation. According to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five women and one in seven men have experienced severe physical violence from an intimate partner at some point in their lifetime. This violence occurs in both dating relationships and marriages, and occurs on and off college and university campuses.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) originated with the "Day of Unity" in October 1981 and was conceived by the
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
(NCADV). In October 1987, the first DVAM was officially held and, in 1989, Congress passed Public Law 101-112 designating October DVAM, legislation that has continued to pass annually with the NCADV providing leadership. The common themes, which are still central to DVAM today, are:
- Mourning those who have died because of domestic violence.
- Celebrating those who have survived.
- Connecting those who work to end violence.
This year, several domestic violence organizations are supporting the
National Resource Center on Domestic Violence
's (NRCDV) social media campaign #ThisIsDV. The campaign "elevates the voices of survivors to help validate and name their experiences and raise awareness about the multifaceted nature of domestic violence." Your college or university can find additional
campaign ideas
and
artwork
on the NRCDV website.
The following organizations have valuable information and resources you may want to consider sharing with your campus community throughout the year.
- Futures Without Violence: A 30 year-old organization dedicated to providing groundbreaking programs, policies, and campaigns to help end violence against women and children around the world.
- Jana's Campaign: Founded in 2008 after the death of 25 year-old law student Jana Mackey to violence perpetrated by her ex-boyfriend, Jana's Campaign provides education about and prevention against gender and relationship violence.
- Joyful Heart Foundation: A national organization with a mission to transform society's response to sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse, support survivors' healing, and end this violence forever through healing, education, and advocacy.
- LoveIsRespect: A project designed to empower youth to prevent and end dating abuse.
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: Created in 1994 when President Bill Clinton signed the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the National Domestic Violence Hotline is no longer just a 1-800 number, but a wealth of information on healthy relationships; a source of help for survivors, friends, and families; and much more.
- NO MORE: NO MORE aims to raise public awareness and engagement around ending domestic violence and sexual assault, and was launched in March 2013 by a coalition of leading advocacy groups, service providers, the U.S. Department of Justice, and major corporations.
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Access our online calendar of events. |
Professional Development Opportunities
Title: Residence Life and Students with Autism
Organization: Association of Higher Education and Disabilities
Date:
October 13, 2016 at 3:00PM ET
Location:
Online
Fee:
Free
Title: NCADV's 2016 National Conference: Voices United
Organization: National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Dates:
October 23-26, 2016
Location: Chandler, AZ
Fee:
Registration Fee
Title: 2017 NASPA Mental Health Conference: A NASPA Strategies Conference
Organization: NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education
Dates:
January 19-21, 2017
Location:
Austin, TX
Fee:
Registration Fee
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Campus Public Safety Online
Past NCCPS webinars are available to view.
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Trauma-Informed Sexual Assault Investigation and Adjudication Institute
Join us for one of our scheduled institutes!
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Have a Request?
Send us your requests for campus safety information and resources. We're happy to help!
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