Norco College has been awarded the Garrett Lee Smith Campus Suicide Prevention Grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), providing $500,000 over four years to strengthen campus-wide suicide prevention and mental health support efforts.
“Mental health is fundamental to student success,” said Sheree Summers, Norco College Mental Health Services Supervisor. “This funding will allow Norco College to expand evidence-based prevention efforts, strengthen early intervention and support services, and contribute to a campus environment where students feel connected, supported, and empowered to seek help when they need it.”
The federal funding will support strategic initiatives designed to promote wellness and resilience, to reduce suicide risk, increase access to mental health services, strengthen early identification efforts, and enhance the college's capacity to recognize and respond to students and community members who may be at risk for suicide.
The Garrett Lee Smith grant supports implementation of the Comprehensive Approach to Campus Suicide Prevention, an evidence-based model adapted specifically for institutions of higher education. The model focuses on identifying students at risk, increasing help-seeking behaviors, expanding access to mental health and substance use disorder services, implementing crisis management procedures, restricting access to potentially lethal means, developing life skills, and fostering social connectedness across campus communities.
The grant aligns with Norco College's commitment to student success by addressing the critical connection between mental health, academic achievement, and overall wellness. Through collaborative partnerships and evidence-based practices, the college aims to create a lasting framework for suicide prevention that will benefit students for years to come.
Go to the Norco College Mental Health Counseling Services website to learn more.