Monmouth University is pleased to announce it has been awarded a grant in the amount of $301,215 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration to be used over three years to assist in its efforts to prevent suicide and enhance mental health services to students in crisis. A kick-off event for the program will be held at Magill Commons at Monmouth University on World Suicide Prevention Day, September 10, at 10 a.m.
Speakers at the kick-off event include President Paul G. Gaffney, Social Work Professor Michelle Scott, Director of Counseling and Psychological Services Franca Mancini, and Dean of the School of Social Work Robin Mama. Professor Scott and Dr. Mancini are co-directors of the project.
The grant will fund the Promoting Wellness and Resiliency program at Monmouth University. The program is a University and community partnership whose purpose is to enhance prevention, identification, and service utilization for all students, particularly those with mental and behavioral health problems which elevate their risk for suicide ideation, attempts, and completions.
Funds will be used to: increase help-seeking among students and reduce the stigma for seeking care for mental and behavioral health issues among students; develop training programs for students and campus personnel; add to the established infrastructure and community partnerships with a public awareness campaign; conduct educational seminars; prepare and distribute educational materials; and promote the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK or 8255) which provides 24-hour help for individuals with suicide-related problems.
By the end of the grant, it is expected that more than 700 gatekeepers and providers, as well as the Monmouth University student body of approximately 6,000, will be offered training in mental health and suicide awareness, and identification and referral/help-seeking, as well as being exposed to public awareness messages.
Grant Project Co-Director and Monmouth University Social Work Professor Michelle Scott stated: “We are thrilled and honored to receive this award. It is hoped that work we have planned to prevent suicide and promote resiliency within our community will truly benefit the student body and the University as a whole. We plan to create a competent community where all students, faculty, staff, and administrators acknowledge their role in preventing suicide and helping each other – a true demonstration of the “hawks fly together” motto.”
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Media contact: Petra Ludwig at 732-263-5507