Mental Health

1
Mental Health Suicide Awareness in a
University Setting

• Amanda Kracen
• Presented by Deirdre Flynn
• Trinity College Dublin

2
Project Context

• Head of SCS interested in developing best
  practice guidelines
• Contacted Teresa Mason, NAHB
• Consultation in College with key stakeholders
• Submitted joint proposal for funding planning
• Concept of health promoting setting
• Governments report of the National Task Force
  (1998)

3
Project Design

• Based in the Student Counselling Service
• Project worker for 2.5 days/week
• Managed by NAHB TCD
• Steering group of 15 people
• Timetable of expected activities
• Action research methods

4
Aims and Objectives

• Examine services activities in college
• Develop, deliver evaluate training module
• Identify best practice for service provision
• Make recommendations to develop positive mental
  health promotion/suicide prevention strategy
• Document findings share materials

5
Content of Workshop

• Positive mental health vulnerabilities
• Suicide in Ireland
• Role of staff duty of care
• Prevention protective risk factors
• Intervention warning signs, what to say,
  support services, referral skills,
  confidentiality concerned others
• Postvention why, protocol, self-care

6
Expected Findings

• Change of attitude, stigma reduction is needed
• Variety of good resources practices nationwide
• Staff are emphatic have desire to help
• Recognition of staff teamwork
• Students unaware of support services
• Concern for vulnerable groups
• Substance misuse is major problem
• Barriers time, funding management

7
Unexpected findings

• Large variety in scale of preparation resources
• Extensive amount of time personal investment of
  staff caring for students in crisis
• Staff concerned with lack of training,
  professional support, knowledge of support
  services, college policy procedures
• Students unaware of support services
  circumstances
• Organisational gaps identified within pilot
  institution

8
Project recommendations

• Develop institutional strategy for mental health
  promotion
• Encourage partnership with community agencies
• Implement relevant policy protocols
• Formalise student death policy/postvention plans
• Offer on-going mental health suicide awareness
  training for staff

9
Project recommendations

• Design student health promotion campaigns to
  reduce stigma, increase awareness of support
  services encourage health behaviour
• Develop initiatives for supporting vulnerable
  student groups
• Address issue of substance misuse
• Evaluate all activities for effectiveness

10
Project Publication

• Time consuming resource intensive
• Report website launched in January by CEO of
  NAHB Provost of TCD
• Sensationalistic press coverage
• Posted out more than 800 manuals
• More than 600 hits on website
• Feedback has been very positive

11
Website

• www.tcd.ie/student_counselling/