Fordham University

Fordham University will develop, coordinate and implement a multi-modal and comprehensive Suicide Prevention Program to enhance overall student mental health and reduce suicide attempts, completions and related risk factors, such as anxiety, depression and substance misuse. While the entire Fordham community of over 15,000 students and 3000 faculty and staff will be exposed to the program, particular attention will be paid to students who under-utilize mentalhealth services and/or have been identified as high-risk by the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention (NAASP), including veteran, LGBT, international, and ethnic and racial minority students.

With a Campus Suicide Prevention Grant from SAMHSA, Fordham will strengthen its existing infrastructure to develop, implement, and evaluate ecologically and culturally appropriate population-based prevention, education and training interventions to promote mental health and mitigate suicide risk on campus. Guided by recommendations from the NAASP, the Suicide Prevention Resource Center and the Jed Foundation, these interventions will include the following strategic goals and objectives:

Goal 1: Enhance student coping and resiliency skills by (1) delivering mindfulness based stress reduction seminars to improve student distress tolerance and emotional regulation; (2)purchasing, customizing and disseminating the Stressbusters Wellness mobile application; and(3) providing broad-based psycho-educational seminars to promote holistic health and wellness.

Goal 2: Increase identification, support and referral of students in distress and/or at increased suicide risk by (1) strengthening linkages and collaborations with campus and community stakeholders; (2) promoting utilization of Kognitos At-Risk for University and College Faculty and Students gatekeeper trainings; and (3) implementing the Student Support Network suicideprevention peer education program.

Goal 3: Increase help seeking behaviors among students by (1) improving partnerships and collaborations with targeted campus constituencies; (2) incorporating Pace Universitys Suicide Prevention Multicultural Competence Kit into educational and training programs; and (3) developing a peer driven, multimedia public awareness campaign to reduce stigma, shame and misinformation associated with mental health services.

Goal 4: Improve student access to mental health services by (1) increasing community awareness and visibility of on and off campus entry points for mental health care, including the NationalSuicide Prevention Lifeline; and (2) developing case management protocols and enhancing community provider referral network.