College of Central Florida

College of Central Florida (CF) Suicide Prevention Initiative project is to bring about systematic and cultural change that will result in better identification of and help-seeking for students at risk of suicide. Target populations include, but are not limited to, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and Questioning individuals, American Indian/Alaska Natives, military family members and veterans. CF’s project will serve Marion, Citrus and Levy counties in North Central Florida. The overarching goal of the proposed project is to prevent suicide of students attending CF, and their family members.

The Objectives of this project are:

1. Develop a college advisory committee that will assist and advise in the creation of a campus wide response protocol to manage the acutely distressed or suicidal student;
2. Increase the amount of training to Central Florida College students, faculty and staff on suicide prevention and mental health awareness;
3. Increase collaboration among College of Central Florida, Bay Care Behavioral Health Center, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and other community partners to convey the message that suicide prevention is a community responsibility;
4. Increase the promotion of the National Suicide Prevention Line;
5. Present educational seminars and informational materials to College of Central Florida students, faculty, staff, and family members on suicide prevention, identification and reductions of risk factors such as depression and substance use/abuse; and
6. Increase help seeking among College of Central Florida students and reduce the stigma attached for seeking help for mental and behavioral health issues among our students.

This project will allow the college to develop and implement an infrastructure that will promote education and awareness, incorporating the philosophy that it is everyone’s responsibility to be knowledgeable on suicide awareness, know the signs-and-symptoms, strategies to dealing with and know the resources to use, if an occurrence occurs.

It is estimated that a minimum of 800 students, faculty and staff and family members will receive formal education/training annually on suicide prevention and mental health issues, through modules for classroom-based instruction, a series of seminars/workshops, and guest speakers. Many more individuals will be exposed to and gain awareness through print materials, National Prevention Day activities, and social media.