KENT, Ohio – Kent State University has been awarded a four-year Garrett Lee Smith (GLS) Campus Suicide Prevention Grant through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to strengthen mental health promotion, suicide prevention and substance use support services across its eight campuses.
Led by the Center for Public Policy and Health in partnership with Kent State of Well-being, the GLS grant will expand behavioral health screenings, prevention programming, training opportunities and referral systems designed to connect students with support and resources.
“We in the Center for Public Policy and Health are excited to partner with Kent State of Well-being to bring the GLS grant back to campus for the first time in two years. We’ve seen the positive impact this opportunity has had on campus before, and we are thrilled to have this opportunity again,” said Kayla Varney, MPH, project director.
“This grant allows us to expand our commitment to creating a campus environment where well-being is woven into the student experience,” said Meghan Factor-Page, associate director of Kent State of Well-being. “Through evidence-based prevention programs, peer-led education and skill-building opportunities, we can help students strengthen connections, increase resilience and support a culture where everyone feels they belong. Our Certified Peer Educators are especially valuable in this work, helping to promote well-being and foster meaningful conversations that contribute to a healthier campus community.”
The project will include evidence-based programs such as Fresh Check Day, Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) and Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) training, as well as the Center's internally developed Awareness, Interaction and Direction (A.I.D.) training. The initiative will also increase awareness of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and other campus resources.
Over the four-year grant period, the initiative aims to increase early identification of behavioral health concerns, reduce mental health stigma and strengthen Kent State’s ability to support student well-being through prevention, education and community partnerships.
For more information about the GLS Grant Project, visit https://www.kent.edu/cpph/gls-campus-suicide-prevention-grant
This press release was developed in part under grant number 1H79SM092123-01 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The views, policies, and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of SAMHSA or HHS.
