MENTAL HEALTH

UH became a JED Campus in November 2022, which is guiding our efforts to build upon existing student mental health, substance use and suicide prevention efforts. The JED Initiative is currently forming work groups to address issues like social connectedness, life skills development, substance abuse and identifying students at risk. If you are a member of our campus community interested in being a part of the JED Campus initiative, please visit the website for more information.

QPR workshops are held several times a month online and in person. QRP, which stands for "Question, Persuade, Refer," is a nationally recognized suicide prevention training program designed to educate participants on how to recognize and respond to the signs of suicidal thinking or behavior.

The goal of this training is to recognize these verbal, behavioral, or situational clues and take steps to get the person professional help. The presentation teaches how to ask the suicide question, how to persuade the person to contact appropriate assistance, and how to identify referral options, building an informed community of individuals ready to intervene on behalf of those considering suicide.

In a non-threatening setting, Cougar Ally Training teaches participants to create an accepting campus environment for UH’s LGBTQ population. Allies are given a placard to display as a visible statement of support for the LGBTQ community.

Mental Health First Aid is a free, eight-hour course offered through UH Wellness that introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental illnesses, builds understanding of their impact, and overviews common supports. Groups can request a training. The course uses role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to offer help in a mental health crisis and connect persons to the appropriate professional, peer, social and self-help care. The program also teaches the common risk factors and warning signs of specific types of illnesses, like anxiety, depression, substance use, bipolar disorder, eating disorders and schizophrenia.

Helping Students of Concern prepares UH employees to serve as “eyes and ears” for someone who may be struggling. If you become concerned about a student’s behavior, it is important to be informed and know where to get help. Together we can help to identify someone in need and serve as a protective safety net. The training provides a good overview of the signs when a student may be struggling or in crisis and valuable action steps. Learn more on the CAPS website.

Please call 713-743-5454 if you believe a student or coworker may need support. You can also volunteer to escort them directly to CAPS in Room 2005 in Health 2. If you have an immediate concern for someone's health and well-being, contact UHPD at 713-743-3333 or dial 9-1-1.