The Division of Mental Health and Substance Use (DMHSU), within the Â鶹ÊÓƵ College of Public Health’s Center for Public Policy and Health has once again been awarded a Garrett Lee Smith Campus Suicide Prevention grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Beginning in fall 2021, the 3-year, $306,000 project, called, More Aware, will continue to work to strengthen and enhance the University’s eight campus infrastructure to support student mental health by reducing the adverse consequences of serious mental illness and substance use disorders. The project will be led by Drs. Kim Laurene and Deric Kenne in the College of Public Health and Dr. Lamar Hylton, Vice President for Student Affairs.
In addition to continuing to provide mental health awareness trainings and education to KSU faculty, staff and students, the new project will expand mental health training and education initiatives and will work collaboratively with the University’s newly established CARES Center. More Aware 2.0 initiatives will focus on peer-led programming designed to enhance student mental wellness, increase resilience, and improve coping strategies. Peer mentors will educate and connect students to mental health and substance abuse treatment resources.
To learn more about the programs supported by the More Aware grant, visit: /mhsu/more-aware.