These secondary level interventions offer trauma informed support opportunities and services that are targeted and informed. Typically these involve preparing the specific community members who are likely going to engage students in high touch point environments as well as students that fall in at-risk situations. Residence hall staff, faculty and graduate assistant teachers, and staff in advising roles are key to supporting a community of care. At-risk is defined as students more likely to report stressors in environment, less likely to seek help, and/or report higher levels of distress. Classroom peers are also a focus.
Awareness
I. Strategic messaging: promote awareness of mental health challenges of college students. Special emphasis on marginalized and/or underrepresented groups that would fall in at-risk categories.
- Students of color
- International students
- Veterans
- LGBTQIA+
II. Establish connections with community partners involved with direct support to identified groups.
- The Center
- ISSOMSA
- Veterans Center
- Others
III. Utilize Mental Health Task Force for messaging
- Identify ways to disseminate info through existing campus wide task force
IV. Utilize Student Involvement in messaging
- Partner with undergraduate and graduate student government in messaging plans
- Other student groups
V. Assess need and impact within at-risk populations
- Surveys or focus groups
Skill Development
I. Offer training for Campus Support Partners to promote wellbeing and inform community of care strategies available here and recordings here.
- Supporting Helpers: Focus on community intervention and self-care through targeted trainings.
- Supporting Students in Distress
- Campus Connect & RESPOND
- Don’t Set Yourself on Fire to Keep Others Warm
II. Offer mental health focused support for students at risk.
- Must be readily accessible for any student. Reduce barriers by offering it without delays or additional requirements of needing to engage in formal services.
- Student Counseling Services live workshop series
- Student Counseling Services Skills corner video series
- Student Counseling Services Let’s Talk programming
- Therapy Assistance Online (TAO): Self-help supports for identified mental health concerns including depression, anxiety, relationship issues, wellbeing, substance use and recovery, pain management.
- Biofeedback services
III. Identify Strategies for specific populations that extend reach of other service options identified above.
- Virtual options for discussion/connection groups or circles
- Let’s Talk programming strategically advertised for identified populations (Veterans, Students of Color, International Students, LGBTQIA+)
IV. Peer to peer programming
- Bystander intervention
- Mental Health Ambassadors
- Suicide prevention training options including Kognito, Campus Connect, RESPOND training
Resources
I. Accessible Resources on Mental health topics that emphasizes content and multiple ways of presenting information.
- How to make a referral, crisis information, resource contacts
- Webpages, social media, and YouTube options above
- Focus on more intentional topics that are at-risk including depression, anxiety, life stressors including financial, domestic violence, substance abuse
- Identify resources for specific populations with an emphasis on representation. For example, resources for students of color created by professionals of color.
II. Free mental health focused resources for all students, faculty, staff