Mental Health Strategic Team

Charge

Explore and recommend approaches (strategies, practices, policies) to improving the UA community’s awareness and response to student mental health issues.

Continue educating the UA campus community on the need to continue to provide encouragement to students in distress to seek mental health treatment early in his/her academic career in efforts to treat episodic events and decrease the likelihood of developing mental disorders.
Address faculty and staff concerns regarding student mental health issues and their role in referring students for counseling, in preparation for Mental Health Edu and a healthier UA community.

Dr. Lee Keyes	Counseling Center
Dr. Jim Hamilton	Psychology
Michelle Harcrow	Health Promotion and Wellness
Joanne Terrell	School of Social Work
Scott Thayer	Disciples Student Ministry
Corrie Harris	Campus Activities
Elva Bradley	Center for Teaching and Learning
Dr. Susan Arnold	Psychiatry & Behavioral Med./Student Health Ctr.
Melissa Jackson	Psychology
Dr. Cecelia Laurie	Mathematics
Andy Liles	Police
Ken Fields	Canterbury Chapel Episcopal
Judy Thorpe	Office of Disability Services

Exploring ways to prepare the UA Community by addressing faculty/staff concerns regarding their roles in assisting the UA community with mental health issues.
Exploring ways to provide UA Faculty and Staff with the necessary means to identify distressed students early and refer them for help.
Work with Housing and Residential Communities to provide training on empathetic listening skills to RA’s for the 07-08 year.
Work with the Office of Voluntary Services to identify opportunities for student groups to work with mental health providers or with schools to mentor troubled children.
Encourage Creative Compass to focus on creativity and mental health.
Encourage University Programs to pursue the idea of having a major speaker next year on the topic of mental health and coping skills in college.
Supporting the implementation of the e-learning module for use by Freshman Compass classes on mental health.

Supported the development of a booklet for new students and their parents to promote student health by focusing on critical issues with transition to college, specifically in the area of the need for maintenance prescription medications for preexisting mental health conditions and spotlighting the resources of the Counseling Center, Student Health Center and the Office of Disability Services.
Funding from the Indian Rivers was obtained to support the printing of the document for new students and parents.
Supported a recommendation for adding a case manager and psychiatric nurse to the University’s staff to provide a focal point for students who are entering and exiting various mental health facilities in the region.
Supported efforts to develop an e-learning course related to student mental health.

Supporting the implementation of the e-learning module for use by Freshman Compass classes on mental health.