UF receives $296,000 suicide prevention grant

August 14, 2012

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The University of Florida’s Counseling & Wellness Center in collaboration with GatorWell Health Promotion Services has received a three-year, $296,000 federal grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The grant will enhance the services provided by UF’s Suicide Prevention Program to better address suicide prevention and mental health promotion among UF students, faculty and staff.

The program increases students’ awareness of preventative strategies and decreases stigma to encourage early intervention and prevent serious mental health crises. Additional goals include building confidence and competence among students, staff and faculty in identifying, approaching and referring fellow students who are in distress.

The grant will fund a comprehensive social marketing campaign targeting the UF student population aimed at removing stigmas surrounding seeking help for mental health issues and encouraging the use of protective strategies such as increased personal connectedness, increased self-care, and empowerment to seek help when experiencing problems.

Further, an interactive online gatekeeper training module called At-Risk by Kognito will be provided for faculty, staff and students to increase their confidence in their ability to intervene with students in distress.

The Counseling & Wellness Center and GatorWell Health Promotion Services are departments within the Division of Student Affairs. Please contact Sherry Benton, director of the Counseling & Wellness Center at 352-392-1575 for more information.