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Developed based on a review and synthesis of relevant programs, guidance, and models, this paper presents seven key elements for comprehensive community-based suicide prevention. The elements are key considerations that should guide suicide prevention program planning and implementation efforts. Community-based programs, policies, and services can play an important role in suicide prevention,… (read more)

Discussions with administrators and other staff at dozens of colleges and universities reveal that many practices are commonly used to help team members identify, intervene with, and manage distressed, disruptive, or potentially violent students. This document includes highlights from these discussions with deans of students, heads of counseling, campus law enforcement officers, legal counsel,… (read more)

Through this alert, The Joint Commission aims to assist all health care organizations providing both inpatient and outpatient care to better identify and treat individuals with suicide ideation. Clinicians in emergency, primary and behavioral health care settings particularly have a crucial role in detecting suicide ideation and assuring appropriate evaluation. Behavioral health professionals… (read more)

SchoolShooters.info is a compendium of documents relating to a wide range of active shooter incidents in educational settings. The purpose of this site is to help prevent school shootings and to provide insight into the perpetrators of large-scale school violence. The information and materials on this site are relevant for professionals in education, mental health, and law enforcement, as well as… (read more)

Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour course that teaches you how to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The training helps you identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders.

In 2016, Women In Government seated the National Task Force on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders after hearing from members about the growing epidemic in their states. The group met over the course of the year to collaborate, develop state policy responses and fresh ideas, and create effective partnerships. The task force, which includes state legislators, mental health professionals and… (read more)

Interactions between officers and individuals with mental illnesses are infrequent and can be complex in nature. These calls for service are often time-consuming and difficult to resolve, and, on relatively rare occasions, result in tragic injuries or deaths. Such cases typically involve repeat contacts with the same individuals, who live in the community with unresolved mental health needs. Law… (read more)

The Healthy Minds Network for Research on Adolescent and Young Adult Mental Health (HMN) is dedicated to improving the mental and emotional well-being of young people by addressing the connection between their mental health and their health behaviors, physical health, and social, educational, and economic outcomes. Taking a public health approach, HMN focuses on 3 main objectives: (1) producing… (read more)

This is the Association for University College Counseling Center Directors (AUCCCD) documented list of mental health needs changes on campuses.

Ongoing communication between public safety and other officials is paramount to help address the challenges and increasing need for supportive and effective mental health services for college and university students with differing mental health needs. Partnerships with off-campus providers can augment campus-based services that may help provide a larger mental health network that will benefit… (read more)

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) conducted a national survey of college students living with mental health conditions to learn about their experiences in school. NAMI designed the survey to hear directly from students about whether schools are meeting their needs and what improvements are needed to support their academic experience. This survey report provides schools with a focused… (read more)

The 2017 Annual Report summarizes data contributed to CCMH during the 2016-2017 academic year, closing on June 30, 2017. De-identified data were contributed by 147 college and university counseling centers, describing 161,014 unique college students seeking mental health treatment; 3,592 clinicians; and over 1,255,052 appointments. The 2017 Report includes important highlights on what's happening… (read more)

This webinar focuses on how health and behavioral healthcare organizations respond following a patient suicide death. Participants hear from health care leaders and experts who discuss key components of an organization-level postvention plan. They explore considerations for supporting patients, staff and the community, and continuing to provide quality care. Additionally, a clinician survivor… (read more)

The purpose of this ACHA White Paper is to confront this serious college health issue through analyzing campus violence patterns, types of violence, methodological problems with collecting campus crime data, underlying issues related to campus violence, and promising practices to prevent and address campus violence.

The Research Prioritization Task Force (RPTF) was created to develop a research agenda which, if fully implemented, would provide multiple, research-informed approaches that will lead to a reduction in suicide attempts and deaths. This agenda will advance the suicide prevention efforts of the Action Alliance (National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, 2013a). This document summarizes the… (read more)

This report is the product of a year-long partnership between NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, the American Council on Education, and the American Psychological Association focusing on student mental health issues. Responding in part to President Obama's call to launch a national conversation to increase the understanding and awareness about mental health, the partnering… (read more)

The 2012 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (the National Strategy) is the result of a joint effort by the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General and the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention. The National Strategy is a call to action that is intended to guide suicide prevention actions in the United States over the next decade. It outlines four strategic directions with 13 goals and… (read more)

This document is a tool to aid colleges and universities in developing awareness of various issues and concerns relating to students in institutions of higher education and in developing or revising policies, protocols and procedures suitable to your unique environment. Making decisions about students who may be distressed, suicidal, or threatening to others can be difficult on many levels. An… (read more)

To help put a thoughtful plan into place should a mental health condition arise, NAMI and JED have created this guide to help start the conversation. It offers both parents and students the opportunity to learn more about mental health, including what the privacy laws are and how mental health information can be shared.

"Set to Go is a program from JED to help high school students prepare for the transition to college and to life after high school. Research with first-year college students shows most wish they were better prepared emotionally for the transition from high school to college. This preparation should begin in high school and Set to Go was created to help. Emotional preparedness for life after high… (read more)

In 2001, the Surgeon General released the first national suicide prevention strategy. As a follow-up to the strategy, a panel of leading experts from various disciplines convened to participate in a roundtable discussion addressing the significant impact of suicide on college and university campuses and the urgent need for intervention. The overall objectives were to gain a more thorough… (read more)

Whether a campus is rural or urban, large or small, private or public, community/technical or four-year traditional, most schools have one or more teams with a purpose of supporting students of concern or preventing harmful behaviors. These groups are often called Threat Assessment Teams, Behavioral Intervention Teams, Case Management Teams, etc. The position of campus teams is a somewhat tricky… (read more)

Between February 2012 and June 2017, Kognito surveyed 14,584 faculty and staff members and 51,294 undergraduate students in 100+ colleges and universities in the U.S. Participants were asked to complete the brief online survey as the first step in taking Kognito's evidence-based and interactive mental health simulation entitled At-Risk." The data suggests strongly that while faculty, staff, and… (read more)

ULifeline is an anonymous, confidential, online resource center where college students can be comfortable searching for the information they need and want regarding emotional health. The website provides information and resources on wellness and to help others in need, a self evaluator, and facts about such topics as alcohol and drugs, anxiety disorders, stress, emotional health, and suicidal… (read more)

JED Campus is a nationwide initiative of The Jed Foundation (JED) designed to guide schools through a collaborative process of comprehensive systems, program, and policy development with customized support to build upon existing student mental health, substance abuse, and suicide prevention efforts. By becoming a member of JED Campus, a school demonstrates a commitment to the emotional well-being… (read more)

Suicide is a public health issue. Media and online coverage of suicide should be informed by using best practices. Some suicide deaths may be newsworthy. However, the way media cover suicide can influence behavior negatively by contributing to contagion, or positively by encouraging help-seeking. This website provides free access to research-based recommendations for reporting on suicide.

The Community Guide is a website that houses the official collection of all Community Preventive Services Task Force findings and the systematic reviews on which they are based. The website provides resources to help you choose programs and policies to improve health and prevent disease in your community.

This technical package represents a select group of strategies based on the best available evidence to help communities and states sharpen their focus on prevention activities with the greatest potential to prevent suicide. These strategies include: strengthening economic supports; strengthening access and delivery of suicide care; creating protective environments; promoting connectedness;… (read more)

The tragedy at Virginia Tech occurred on April 16, 2007 and led to the tragic loss of 32 students and faculty members. This tragedy has had a significant impact on thinking around campus policies and practice related to students with mental health or behavioral challenges. Schools have reconsidered mandatory medical leaves, parental notification, student at risk and care management teams, and… (read more)

Student mental health programs and services are in large demand at institutions of higher education throughout the United States, and many are facing substantial challenges in meeting that demand. Those challenges, in turn, have many colleges and universities re-evaluating their services to prevent and intervene in incidents involving persons with mental health concerns. To learn more about the… (read more)

Student mental health programs and services are in large demand at institutions of higher education throughout the United States, and many are facing substantial challenges in meeting that demand. Those challenges, in turn, have many colleges and universities re-evaluating their services to prevent and intervene in incidents involving persons with mental health concerns. To learn more about the… (read more)

The Center for Education Safety (CES) is an innovative, public-private partnership of the Missouri Department of Public Safety, Missouri Office of Homeland Security, and the Missouri School Boards Association (MSBA). This CES Resource Toolkit is a PDF document with hyperlinks to focus areas and specific web-based resources and information that could help those involved with school safety to be… (read more)

SPRC is the nation's only federally supported resource center devoted to advancing the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. SPRC provides technical assistance, training, and materials to increase the knowledge and expertise of suicide prevention practitioners and other professionals serving people at risk for suicide. SPRC also promotes collaboration among a variety of organizations that… (read more)

SAMHSA promotes and implements prevention and early intervention strategies to reduce the impact of mental and substance use disorders in America's communities. Find information on grants and funding that support programs related to the prevention of substance abuse and mental illness; SAMHSA publications and related resources on the prevention of substance abuse and mental illness; and early… (read more)

NREPP is a searchable online database of mental health and substance abuse interventions. All interventions in the registry have met NREPP's minimum requirements for review and have been independently assessed and rated for quality of research and readiness for dissemination.

The purpose of this document is to develop a working concept of trauma and a trauma-informed approach and to develop a shared understanding of these concepts that would be acceptable and appropriate across an array of service systems and stakeholder groups.

The Tribal Training and Technical Assistance Center provides training and technical assistance (TTA) on mental and substance use disorders, suicide prevention, and the promotion of mental health. They offer broad, focused, and intensive TTA to federally recognized tribes, other American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities, SAMHSA tribal grantees, and organizations serving Indian Country. The… (read more)

Building Resilient and Trauma-Informed Communities is essential to improving public health and well-being. communities can be places where traumatic events occur, and they can also help keep us safe. they can be a source of trauma, or buffer us against the negative effects of adversity. Communities can collectively experience trauma much like individuals do, and they can be a resource for healing… (read more)

This updated resource considers the range of substance misuse and mental health issues many of today's young adults have as they enter colleges and universities or may develop during their college years. The kit provides college and university prevention practitioners, health center staff, and administrators with useful summaries of current knowledge, links, and directions that will make it… (read more)

SAMHDA is a public resource funded by the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). CBHSQ has primary responsibility for the collection, analysis, and dissemination of SAMHSA's behavioral health data. CBHSQ promotes the access and use of the nation's substance abuse and mental health research data through… (read more)

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a 24-hour, toll-free, confidential suicide prevention hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. By dialing 1-800-273-TALK (8255), the call is routed to the nearest crisis center in our national network of more than 150 crisis centers. The Lifeline's national network of local crisis centers provide crisis counseling and mental… (read more)

The goal of this guide is to provide law enforcement executives with best practices regarding first responder mental health best practices learned from colleagues unfortunate enough to have experienced a mass casualty event. The National Alliance on Mental Illness brought together chiefs, mental health professionals, and others with first-hand knowledge to provide readers with a concise… (read more)

This publication is one in a series that was developed by the Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center, in partnership with Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) and supported by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), to address how law enforcement responds to people with mental illnesses. Specialized Policing Responses (SPR) to people with mental illnesses, which prioritize treatment… (read more)

The Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP) supports innovative cross-system collaboration for individuals with mental illnesses or co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders who come into contact with the justice system. The program encourages early intervention for these multisystem-involved individuals; maximizes diversion opportunities for multisystem-involved… (read more)

This publication is one in a series that was developed by the Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center, in partnership with Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) and supported by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), to address how law enforcement responds to people with mental illnesses. This report serves as the centerpiece of this series. It articulates 10 essential elements for… (read more)

This publication is one in a series that was developed by the Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center, in partnership with Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) and supported by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), to address how law enforcement responds to people with mental illnesses. This study explores the program design process for a variety of Specialized Policing Responses (… (read more)

This publication is one in a series that was developed by the Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center, in partnership with Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) and supported by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), to address how law enforcement responds to people with mental illnesses. This training resource guide is written for law enforcement personnel and staff at other agencies… (read more)

The Police-Mental Health Collaboration (PMHC) Toolkit provides resources for law enforcement agencies to partner with mental health providers to effectively respond to calls for service, improve outcomes for people with mental illness, and advance the safety of all. This toolkit will serve as the comprehensive, go-to source for any information related to these important collaboration efforts. In… (read more)

This paper was designed to accompany the Model Policy on Responding to Persons Affected by Mental Illness or in Crisis developed by the IACP National Law Enforcement Policy Center. This paper provides essential background material and supporting documentation to provide greater understanding of the developmental philosophy and implementation requirements for the… (read more)