Campus Connect at W&M

Program Objectives

In this training participants will gain:

1. Increased knowledge of suicide warning signs and referral points for students at risk for suicide.
2. Increased skills to respond to college students at-risk for suicide.
3. Increased self-efficacy regarding their ability to respond to a student at-risk for suicide.

Highlights

• Campus Connect is listed under the Suicide Prevention Resources Center and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Best Practices Registry
• As a JED Campus School, Campus Connect is consistent with The Jed Foundation recommendation for gatekeeper training as a component of a comprehensive suicide prevention plan for college campuses
• Campus Connect has been featured in Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration newsletter and 175 campuses have been trained in this program

Who can participate in a Campus Connect training?

Campus Connect was specifically designed for the college community and any campus community member can participate in a training, including students, faculty, and staff. 

Why is this training necessary?

Research has demonstrated that approximately eighty percent of college students who died by suicide were not previously known to college mental health service providers. The goal of this training is to develop a network of individuals within the community to assist in identifying and supporting students in crisis and referring them to the appropriate mental health resources. Increasing the utilization and effectiveness of this training is one of the priorities included in the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and the JED Foundation suggests that gatekeeper training is an important element for a comprehensive campus suicide prevention program.

Is there research to support the effectiveness of Campus Connect?

Yes. Using a pre-training/post-training design, research assessments conducted at Syracuse University have demonstrated a significant increase in gatekeepers’ knowledge, skills, and comfort in responding to students in crisis as a result of participating in a Campus Connect training. Click the link for more information on this research.

How do I become a qualified trainer for Campus Connect?

Campus Connect is always looking for new trainers.  Becoming a trainer involves participating in a 6-hour train-the-trainer session in order to learn how to implement the program.  If you are interested in becoming a trainer, please contact [[jrcross, Jennifer Cross]].