As the end of the school year approaches, students are feeling stressed and overwhelmed. Sometimes they disclose personal struggles, including mental health challenges, to faculty and staff. What if a student admits to having thoughts of suicide?
How should Boise State employees respond? The university has an interactive online training tool called Kognito, and it can help prepare faculty and staff with the skills needed to have those conversations with students. Jenna Allen, the outreach and prevention case manager in the Office of the Dean of Students, can provide information on getting signed up for the training as well as facilitate in-person debriefing discussions, which are highly recommended.
This also is a great training for small or large departments to participate in together. Interested faculty and staff are encouraged to contact Jenna at jennaallen1@boisestate.edu.