Indian River State College Awarded Garrett Lee Smith (GLS) Campus Suicide Prevention Grant

January 21, 2020 Suzanne Seldes

Indian River State College (IRSC) has received a $295,798 Garrett Lee Smith (GLS) Campus Suicide Prevention Grant to support Promoting Education and Awareness about Campus Emotional Health (PEACE), a cohesive educational and crisis intervention plan that identifies and addresses the risk factors for suicide and suicide prevention including alcohol/substance abuse, domestic violence, and sexual violence. IRSC is one of only 16 colleges and universities selected by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to receive this grant.

Using standardized assessment tools and college-wide mental health training, IRSC will identify high-risk students and make referrals for treatment. Expanded services and programs such as gatekeeper training programs, educational seminars, suicide prevention awareness informational materials and suicide postvention will be widely available for IRSC students, faculty, and staff.

“Strengthening the College’s ability to identify and fill existing behavioral health service gaps, provide improved health assessment, offer more diverse training, and link at-risk students with the appropriate interventions, will substantially enhance student success opportunities and the overall health of the IRSC community,” affirms Patricia Corey-Souza, Ph.D., R.N., and Coordinator of the IRSC Health and Wellness Center.

IRSC expects to educate and screen 3,000 to 3,500 individuals per year through the duration of the three-year project. Education and training efforts will focus on topics such as identifying at-risk students, developing an awareness of potential behavioral warning signs in the classroom, taking the appropriate steps in safely assisting students, and learning how to make a referral.

“Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our students is the ultimate goal of the PEACE program,” concludes Corey-Souza. “We are thrilled to launch this important initiative with the support of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.”

About the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities.