Loyola University Chicago

The purpose of Loyola University Chicago’s L&U Care-Together project is to enhance current suicide prevention programs to the next level through building a comprehensive and coherent networking infrastructure and implementing culturally and linguistically appropriate and evidence-based best practice standards. While the entire Loyola stakeholders of 15,000 students and 1,800 staff and faculty will benefit from this project, particular attention will be paid to high risk students identified by National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention such as ethnic minority, international, LGBTQ, and veteran students. For this purpose, L&U Care-Together project establishes three strategic goals and activities:

Goal 1: Create comprehensive infrastructure and collaborative networking by (1) developing and implementing a suicide prevention strategic plan through Campus Advisory Board; and (2) enhancing a more solid, expanded, and seamless networking linkage among diverse entry points on campus and with off-campus resources.

Goal 2: Increase knowledge of suicide prevention and mental health awareness by (1) delivering the Mental Health First Aid gatekeeper training to students, faculty, administrators, and staff; (2) developing culturally and linguistically appropriate and evidence-based informational materials and an educational seminar curriculum modifying Pace University’s Suicide Prevention Multicultural Competence Kit for suicide prevention and mental health; (3) providing formalized and structured educational seminars to increase knowledge of suicide behaviors and to decrease misinformation associated with mental health services; and

Goal 3: Increase help-seeking behaviors and reduce stigma of mental health disorders by (1) promoting a series of public awareness campaigns around National Suicide Prevention Week and World Suicide Prevention Day in order to increase the visibility of National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK (8255)) and community mental health resources.