A new training program at the College of Southern Nevada will help provide more mental health access to our students by teaching faculty and staff how to recognize early warning signs of distress in students.
A three-year, $50,000 federal grant awarded to CSN’s Counseling and Psychological Services team is helping provide basic training to any interested faculty and staff on how to pick up early warning signs in students, as well teaching them where to refer students if necessary.
“This grant is about bringing awareness to campus,” said Daniel Alvarado, the director for both the Disability Resource Center and Counseling and Psychological Services. “We want the college community to recognize early on some mental health issues folks may be going through, and then referring them to counseling services.”
The grant runs on a “train the trainer” model. About 15 employees across all departments and divisions have undergone industry standard training in mental health first aid. Those employees will lead larger employee training sessions through the college’s Center for Academic and Professional Excellence.
Down the road, Alvarado said he’d like to get student leaders involved in the program, as well.
“Students talk to other students, they need to be a part of this mix of building bridges,” he said.
The training is not meant to teach staff how to diagnose or treat mental health illnesses, Alvarado said, but to help them be aware of subtle clues that indicate a student might be in distress and need help.
Take, for example, a student who suddenly begins missing class. Or whose coursework has taken a dramatic downturn.
“The training will help provide some questions you should be asking,” Alvarado said. “How do you connect? How do you build those bridges and not be afraid to reach out to students?”
Confidential counseling services are available to all CSN students, but sometimes students aren’t aware the service exists. Counseling on the CSN campuses is available on a short-term basis and then students can be referred to other, outside agencies.
CSN was the only agency in Nevada to receive this grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.