Snow College

The Snow College Counseling and Wellness Center will oversee the implementation of the Snow College Suicide Prevention Program (SCSPP), a campus- and community-wide effort to reduce substance abuse, mental illness, and suicide. Program staff will work with students, staff, faculty, campus leaders, on- and off-campus housing directors, and religious and community leaders to achieve program goals.

The target population of the SCSPP is the student body of Snow College, a small two-year college in Central Utah. Most students are white, come from the rural Six County area surrounding the college, and belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). However, other groups, such as minority and international students and those identified as high-risk by the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, will also receive resources and programming specific to their needs. The program will serve approximately 425 students through mandatory residence hall trainings and student mentor trainings and seminars. The entire student body, approximately 4,386 students, will be exposed to the program through public service announcements, informational materials, and various seminars.

The program has the following goals and objectives:

1. Provide suicide prevention training to at least 85 percent of Snow College faculty and staff.
2. Provide educational seminars to almost all students in on-campus housing.
3. Offer educational seminars to all students on campus, including minority and international students and students in off-campus housing.
4. Reduce the stigma associated with seeking counseling by providing outreach, education, and materials to Snow College students on both the Ephraim and Richfield campuses.
5. Increase student awareness of the services offered at the Snow College Counseling and Wellness Center as well as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
6. Through increased communication with key stakeholders, facilitate early identification of students suffering from substance abuse, mental illness, and suicidal ideation.
7. Increase the numbers of students referred to the Snow College Counseling and Wellness Center, and ensure that all referrals are fully assessed.
8. Address the needs of youth at high-risk identified by the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention.

SCSPP staff plan to coordinate efforts with appropriate State agencies by communicating regularly, evaluating program progress, and determining what collaborative efforts would best serve Snow College students and others throughout the state.