SOS is an integrated, coordinated, multi-level suicide prevention program that includes universal prevention strategies aimed at the general campus population with special emphasis placed on reaching gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (GLBTQ) students and military-affiliated students, including active duty servicepersons, veterans, and military spouses and dependents.

The SOS program includes:

• QPR Gatekeeper Training, a training program that builds skills for recognizing suicide warning signs and responding effectively to them offered to faculty, staff, and students. QPR is easy to learn, takes only one hour and is free to students, faculty and staff. Sign up now for Spring 2013 Faculty/Staff trainings or Student trainings. To find out about how to schedule a training for your department or student organization, call April Glenn at 474-2420 or e-mail: aglenn@uwf.edu. 

• A Suicide Prevention Coalition to coordinate, design, and review policies and procedures related to suicide prevention and crisis response

• A Student Organization Network, to provide educational activities aimed at decreasing stigma associated with mental illness and help-seeking. The Student Organization Network is composed of four campus organizations: Students for Suicide Awareness, To Write Love on Her Arms, Gay Straight Alliance, and Student Veterans of America.

• A Social Marketing Campaign to increase student knowledge and awareness of suicide warning signs and risk factors, with linkage to national suicide hotline resources. The social marketing poster campaign is a six poster series developed to dispel suicide myths, reduce stigma regarding mental health treatment, promote help seeking, and provide brief educational tips on how to help a friend in crisis. Each poster features a branded campaign and includes images of a diverse group of college students. Three unique posters will be displayed each semester of the 2012-2013 school year.

How to Help a Student Who May Be Having Thoughts About Suicide