Pennsylvania's IHEs, like those across the nation, are facing a mental health crisis on their campuses. According to an article from the American Psychological Association (APA), nearly three-quarters of all students are reporting psychological distress and campus supports cannot keep up with the demand for counseling services and resources. The national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline was established to make getting critical resources available and at the fingertips of those that need them as soon as possible.
Act 110 of 2018 recognized that IHEs should have a clear suicide prevention plan on campus with guidelines to ensure resources are pushed out to learners on a regular basis. PDE designates institutions that meet established criteria and posts the plans that are submitted to the Office of Postsecondary and Higher Education website to ensure an exchange of best practices and to provide additional resources.
Resources
The PA MASLOW K-16 Mental Health Summit (PDF), held in June 2024, addressed rising mental health challenges for students transitioning from K-12 to postsecondary education. The summit brought together traditional, full-time college students, K-12 educators, postsecondary representatives, and community partners for a day-long roundtable focused on understanding mental health support during this transition, identifying barriers, and discussing strategies to improve services and ensure consistent support for traditional students moving from high school to college.
SAMHSA – Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration – is an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that leads public health efforts to advance behavioral in the nation and improve the lives of those living with mental and substance use disorders and their families. There are a variety of resources to share online as well as printable materials to promote the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Jed Foundation - Jed was created to provide comprehensive mental health supports, information about substance misuse, and prevent suicide for high school and college students. Over 370 colleges with more than 4.8 million students are served by Jed. Jed Campus offers IHEs technical assistance to stand up mental health supports and programming for students. In 2020, the Jed Foundation produced a Jed Campus Impact Report which showed significant evidence of improvements across policy and access for students.
The Steve Fund is dedicated to the mental health and emotional well-being of young people of color. Text STEVE to 741741 to access a culturally trained Crisis Text Line counselor.
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Keystone Pennsylvania – NAMI Keystone PA is focused on improving the lives of children, adolescents, adults, and families affected by mental illness through recover-focused support, education, and advocacy.
HEAL PA is a mix of state agency representatives and community stakeholders from across the Commonwealth responsible for prioritizing the recommendations, setting short- and long-term goals, and assigning measurable metrics to make the plan recommendations a reality.
The McDowell Institute supports the facilitation of social, emotional, and behavioral wellness of children, youth, and young adults across school and community settings.
The Higher Education Suicide Prevention Coalition is a collaborative organization aimed at developing and implementing strategies to reduce suicides on campus. There is an annual conference and monthly webinars on relevant campus topics. The organization also offers mini grants for campuses to get started on this important work.
VA (Veteran's Affairs) Mental Health Services connects veterans to a variety of resources including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), psychological effects of military sexual trauma (MST), depression, grief, anxiety, and other needs.
Mental Health First Aid is a training that can be provided to faculty, staff, and students that helps participants identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness and substance abuse disorders.
QPR (Question. Persuade. Refer.) is a training designed to reduce suicidal behaviors and save lives by providing innovative, practical, and proven suicide prevention training.
The Trevor Project offers a range of assistance, including crisis hotlines and valuable resources, aimed at preventing suicide within the LGBTQ youth community. Through its unique set of tools, research findings, and actionable suggestions to mitigate suicide risks among LGBTQ young individuals, the Trevor Project ensures continuous access to professional counselors around the clock.
Youth Move PA is a statewide youth and young adult advocacy organization dedicated to eliminating stigma surrounding mental health while promoting wellness and recovery for those seeking aid along their journey. Staff consisting of certified peer specialist and other professionals dedicated to mental health and recovery provide supports, guidance, and opportunities to share in wellness opportunities for young adults.
Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network (MHTTC) is funded by SAMHSA and has a goal of disseminating and implementing evidence-based practices for mental health disorders in the field. Free resources and trainings are available around mental health including trainings for suicide prevention, supporting transition age youth, and meeting the mental health needs of various student groups.
Thinking strategically about Mental Health
- What supports are already on your campus and how can you scale them?
- What does immediate, supportive care look like for a student or employee in crisis?
- How can you decrease wait times to zero for those in immediate need?
- How can you decrease wait times to zero for those in immediate need?
- Are you a Jed Campus? If not, how can you become one?
- Do faculty list resources to the counseling center or mental health app on their syllabi?
- Are there positions on campus that could or should be created to support students' mental health such as a counselor-in-residence?