Help Is Here Suicide Awareness Initiative Kellee Ellis

Help Is Here: Suicide Awareness Initiative Kellee Ellis, M. Ed. , LPCC, LSW, NCC Counselor/Assistant Professor David G. Nardecchia, M. Ed. , LPCC Counselor/Assistant Professor Katie Khoury, B. S. Project Manager, Integrated Communications Michelle Nicopolis, Ph. D. , LPCC Professor, Psychology Kevin P. Kuntz, Ed. S. , LPCC-S, NCC Counselor/Associate Professor LOI Innovations Conference 2020

Cuyahoga Community College • Cuyahoga County, Ohio Greater Cleveland area • Opened in 1963 • Ohio’s oldest and largest public community college • 4 campuses • 3 satellite locations • Holistic Counseling & Psychological services -Academic Counseling -Career Counseling -Personal Counseling LOI Innovations Conference 2020

Ohio House Bill 28 (HB 28) In 2015, House Bill 28 (Anielski, RWalton Hills, OH) was signed into law, requiring public higher education institutions to develop and implement a policy to advise students and staff on suicide prevention programs. LOI Innovations Conference 2020 Ohio higher education public institutions are required to: • Provide students access to crisis intervention • Engage in mental health programming • Use multimedia platforms to connect students to resources • Have a Postvention Plan for incidents impacting the campus/ college community

Facts & Statistics • An estimated 26% of Americans ages 18 • and older – about 1 in 4 adults - live with a diagnosable mental health disorder in a given year. • Nearly ¾ of people with anxiety disorders will have their first episode by age 21. Young adults aged 18 -24 have the highest prevalence of diagnosable forms of mental illness among the entire population, at 27%. • Compared to older adults, the 18 -24 yr old age group shows the lowest rate of help-seeking behaviors. • Suicide is the 2 nd leading cause of death among college students, claiming the lives of 1, 100 students each year. www. activeminds. org LOI Innovations Conference 2020

Suicide Statistics • In 2017, 47, 173 Americans died by suicide • In 2017, there were an estimated 1, 400, 000 suicide attempts • On average there are 129 suicides per day • Men die 3 ½ times more often than women • White males accounted for 7 of 10 suicides in 2017 (69. 67%) Suicide deaths by method 2017 [CATEGORY NAME] 14% [CATEGORY NAME] 27% [CATEGORY NAME] [PERCENTAGE] Firearm LOI Innovations Conference 2020 [CATEGORY NAME] [PERCENTAGE] Other Suffocation Poisoning www. afsp. org

Ohio Suicide Rates LOI Innovations Conference 2020 www. afsp. org

Community College Populations at Risk • Males • International students • LGBTQ+ • Students with pre-existing mental health disorders • Returning military/veterans LOI Innovations Conference 2020

Suicide is a multifactor event Ø Psychiatric illness Ø Neurobiology Ø Impulsivity Ø Hopelessness Ø Family history Ø Psychological vulnerability Ø Suicidal behavior Ø Life stressors Ø Access to weapons Ø Severe medical illness Ø Substance use/abuse Ø Personality disorders/traits LOI Innovations Conference 2020 The good news • Most people tell us – Prior to a suicide death: • 90% demonstrate clear warning signs • 80% tell someone • • 67% of students tell a friend they are feeling suicidal before telling anyone else. Students are 20% more likely to receive treatment on campuses that are perceived to be supportive of mental health issues than not. www. activeminds. org

A Strength-Based Approach on Campus Language • Focus on innate strengths • Language and thoughts influence perceptions • Model healthy language • Died by suicide, not “committed suicide” • Mental health challenge, not “problem” • Use mental “wellness” when appropriate • Refrain from using “crazy” or “insane”, etc. • Use first-person language LOI Innovations Conference 2020 Behavior/Resources Encourage help-seeking behaviors Promote counseling services Be visible on campus Promote community resources Promote outreach events Advocate for internal reporting system Open (and easy) communication Prevention, intervention, and postvention plans • Crisis plan • Robust counseling website • Use modern technology • •

http: //www. tri-c. edu/helpishere LOI Innovations Conference 2020

LOI Innovations Conference 2020

LOI Innovations Conference 2020

Tri-C’s Help Is Here App: www. tri-c. edu/helpishere Tri-C’s Mobile App: www. tri-c. edu/mobile LOI Innovations Conference 2020

LOI Innovations Conference 2020

LOI Innovations Conference 2020

LOI Innovations Conference 2020

LOI Innovations Conference 2020

LOI Innovations Conference 2020

Marketing Strategies Goal: To inform faculty, staff and students about the Help Is Here app through a multi-faceted marketing approach Communication tactics included announcements, printed collateral, and social media posts. Ø My Tri-C Space announcements Ø Faculty Central announcements Ø E-mails (to students, faculty, and staff) Ø Flyers Ø Posters Ø Business cards Ø Pens Ø Social media presence and posts (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) LOI Innovations Conference 2020

Messaging examples Generic e-mail sent out college-wide at the start of academic semesters: “The Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) Help Is Here initiative provides quick access to potentially lifesaving resources via the Help Is Here homepage and mobile app (App Store and Google Play); resource guides for employees and students; and online training modules. Local and national crisis lifelines and textlines, many available 24/7, are accessible to anyone in need. Reaching out can be difficult. But with Help Is Here resources, assistance is just a click away. Visit www. tri-c. edu/helpishere for information about mental health and wellness, to take assessments, and much more. ” E-mails sent out at midterm and finals week: Student message “Finals/midterms are right around the corner. As you take time to study, take time for yourself! Go to the Help Is Here website (www. tri-c. edu/helpishere) or the mobile app and check out 24/7 crisis contacts as well as helpful mental health and wellness tips. ” Faculty message “Finals/midterms are right around the corner. As your students take time to study, please encourage them to take time for themselves, too! They can go to the Help Is Here website (www. tri-c. edu/helpishere) or the mobile app and check out 24/7 crisis contacts as well as helpful mental health and wellness tips. ” LOI Innovations Conference 2020

Suicide Awareness Training @ Tri-C Overview: • Ohio House Bill 28 • Data Approach: • Things to say/do • Things to not say/do Recognize: • Suicide warning signs • Suicide risk factors Referrals & Resources: • Counseling & Psychological Services • Campus Police • Local & national resources • Help Is Here website & phone app LOI Innovations Conference 2020

National Resources - Websites American Foundation for Suicide Prevention - http: //www. afsp. org Active Minds - http: //www. activeminds. org/ The Trevor Project - http: //www. thetrevorproject. org/ The Jed Foundation - http: //www. jedfoundation. org/ U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs - www. mentalhealth. va. gov/Resources. asp National Alliance on Mental Illness - http: //www. nami. org/ Suicide Prevention Resource Center - http: //www. sprc. org/ American Association of Suicidology - http: //www. suicidology. org Give an Hour - http: //www. giveanhour. org/ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration - http: //www. samhsa. gov/ LOI Innovations Conference 2020

National Resources – Text & Talk Lines Crisis Text Line: 741 Suicide Hotline: 988 or 1 -800 -SUICIDE or 1 -800 -273 -TALK(8255) Veteran-specific: 1 -800 -273 -8255 and press 1 Hearing/Speech Impaired: 1 -800 -799 -4 TTY(4889) Spanish-speaking: 1 -888 -628 -9454 LGBTQ+ -specific (Trevor Project): 1 -866 -4 -U-TREVOR or 1 -866 -488 -7386 Trans Lifeline: 1 -877 -565 -8860 LOI Innovations Conference 2020

Questions? Kellee Ellis, M. Ed. , LPCC, NCC Counselor/Assistant Professor Kellee. Ellis@tri-c. edu Katie Khoury, B. S. Project Manager, Integrated Communications Katie. Khoury@tri-c. edu Kevin P. Kuntz, Ed. S. , LPCC-S, NCC Counselor/Associate Professor Kevin. Kuntz@tri-c. edu David G. Nardecchia, M. Ed. , LPCC Counselor/Assistant Professor David. Nardecchia@tri-c. edu Michelle Nicopolis, Ph. D. , LPCC Professor, Psychology Michelle. Nicopolis@tri-c. edu LOI Innovations Conference 2020