By Tena Cook
Chadron State College Students Services is planning a week of Mental Health Events Sept. 24-27. Most events are open to the public, according to Kolby Mason of Oconto, Nebraska, who has helped organize the week with Student Activities Coordinator Elise Gamble.
Gamble said Mason developed the new idea for a week of events designed to bring resources and education to campus.
“This was his brainchild,” she said.
On Tuesday, the two main events will be in the Student Center Ballroom.
The Trevor Project Ally Training will take place at 9:30 a.m. The session will focus on suicide prevention in the LGBTQ+ community. Gamble said The Trevor Project is the leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ young people. At 1:30 p.m., students and CSC employees may attend CARE Training with Dr. Kyle Teller, manager of Public Training with the Trevor Project. No registration is needed.
Wednesday, a Suicide Prevention Photo Booth will be set up in the Student Center. Materials and resources will be available at the booth.
At 3:30 p.m., Wellness Wednesday meditation will take place at the Veath Planetarium in the Math Science Center of Innovative Learning.
On Friday, QPR training will be offered at 9:30 a.m. in the Student Center’s Scottsbluff Room. QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer. Everyone who completes the course earns a certification that lasts for two years. Gamble said CSC counselors will conduct the training for CSC students and staff and faculty.
“This training is to bring awareness to mental health issues. I think the best resource and tool is education. We’re doing this to get people talking about important topics and trying to decrease the stigma around mental health. I have struggled with mental health issues, so I think this is a great opportunity,” Mason said.
Mason said the trainer will teach participants what questions to ask.
“Some questions might be very direct, such as, ‘Are you suicidal?’ It is OK to talk about suicide. Just ask a question and save a life. The trainer will review what to do in various scenarios, then, at the conclusion, ask participants to role-play and offer guidance,” Mason said.
Trainers will teach participants what to do if someone is actively suicidal, such as calling a resource for immediate help.
“You have to be willing to listen because some of this can take time. A person trained in QPR will want to get help for the person in distress immediately. Unfortunately, that’s not always possible. And a person trained in QPR will want to wait with them, so they are not alone,” Mason said.
Gamble said Mason launched a related initiative with CSC employees called the Ally Team.
“Anyone who would like to offer a safe space for students, especially for those in the LGBTQ+ community, is invited to post a ‘You are safe with me’ sticker in or around their office,” Gamble said. “This community is at higher risk and, therefore, a focus of suicide prevention efforts from organizations like The Trevor Project.”
Gamble said Mason worked hard on a suicide brochure that has been placed in the residence halls, the Director of Disability and Internship Services’ office, and the Project Strive TRiO office.
Also, each person who volunteered to be a safe space has a supply of brochures.
“The brochures have QR codes to book an appointment with the CSC counselors or reach them by email,” Mason said.