Overview

What keeps you up at night? This is the question I’ve asked many student affairs professionals who, even in pre-pandemic times, were increasingly concerned about the state of mental health for students on campus. With counseling centers running at max capacity, students experiencing higher levels of anxiety and depression, and increased cases of suicide deaths on campuses across the country, many administrators are left trying to solve the impossible equation of how to meet the students’ increasingly complex needs. In our new, ever-changing, COVID-induced reality, these concerns have only intensified; and many more challenges have emerged due to the more remote (or at least physically distanced) nature of campus life.

Yet, there is hope. Suicide is one of the most preventable causes of death, and anyone can save a life. In fact, the more people who are equipped with skills to spot warning signs of distress, and who are…