As students across the country continue to face mental health challenges, Student Body Associations at California Community Colleges have recognized the demand for mental health resources on their campuses. These include the creation of wellness spaces on their campuses, an expansion of mental health resource offerings, increased visibility of existing resources, and crisis intervention training for faculty and staff members. In response to issue areas identified by resolutions presented at our annual General Assembly, the SSCCC has created the Mental Health Toolkit.
This toolkit seeks to provide Student Body Associations with guidance as they seek to meet the needs of their student bodies. The toolkit contains four components, each addressing a facet of student mental health & wellness.
Note that this toolkit is not exhaustive. Each campus is unique, and your student body may possess needs and/or desires we have not accounted for in this toolkit. We encourage you to take a look at our other toolkits to see whether they may be of use, and to contact us if you have any lingering questions or concerns.
Creation of a Wellness/Free Expression Space
Several California Community Colleges have already established wellness/free expression spaces, and they have become both hubs of community-building activity and powerful symbols of each college’s commitment to addressing student mental health concerns. This component calls for the creation of such a space, outlining several examples set forth by other campuses and emphasizing the value that this resource brings to students.
We have created an advocacy letter and identified several talking points which Student Body Associations should be prepared to address as they begin working with stakeholders.
Expansion of Mental Health Resource Offerings
As student bodies continue to grow across the CCC system, so do the resources needed on CCC campuses. While recognizing fiscal concerns may stand in the way of expanded resource offerings, this component encourages colleges to get creative by identifying external funding sources/grants, determining what resources are in highest demand, and collaborating with community partners to establish a robust resource network for students to tap into.
We have created an advocacy letter and identified several talking points which Student Body Associations should be prepared to address as they begin working with stakeholders.
Increased Visibility of Existing Mental Health Resources
Many campuses have existing mental health resources that are underutilized and underadvertised. The hard part is done - the resource exists; however, a college’s administration may be having a difficult time reaching students and communicating resource offerings to the student body at large. This component encourages the Student Body Association to seek partnerships with staff and administrators, leveraging the Student Body Association’s network to connect students with resources available to them.
We have created an advocacy letter and identified several talking points which Student Body Associations should be prepared to address as they begin working with stakeholders.
Provision of Crisis Intervention Training Opportunities
A critical element of creating a safe campus environment that is conducive to student learning is ensuring members of one’s campus community are prepared for mental health crises should they arise, and advertising this emergency preparedness to students. This component identifies training resources developed by community colleges in California, and calls upon administrators to expand crisis intervention training opportunities for members of the campus community.
We have created an advocacy letter and identified several talking points which Student Body Associations should be prepared to address as they begin working with stakeholders.
Resources
Crisis Intervention & Suicide Prevention Resources
*Note: in the case of an emergency please call 9-1-1 immediately.
Phone: 988 (confidential suicide prevention hotline)
Phone: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) (National domestic violence hotline)
Phone: 211 (free telephone number providing access to local community services)
24/7 Text Line - Text MHA to 741741
Know the Signs (Suicide Prevention)
Veteran Crisis Line - Text 838255
Teen Line (peer-to-peer mental health support)
Crisis Intervention & Suicide Prevention Resources
Mental Health Awareness Days to Remember
Spring
Mar 1: Self-injury Awareness Day
Mar 16-20: National LGBTQ Health Awareness Week
Mar 16-22: Brain Awareness Week
Mar 30: World Bipolar Day
April: Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month
April: Autism Month
May: Mental Health Awareness Month (founded by Mental Health America)
May 14: Wear It Green Day
Summer
June: PTSD Awareness Month
July: BIPOC Mental Health Month
July 24: International Self-Care Day
Fall
September: National Suicide Prevention Month
September 10: World Suicide Prevention Day
October: ADHD/Depression Awareness Month
October 4–10: Mental Illness Awareness Week
October 10: World Mental Health Day
October 10: National Depression Screening Day
Winter
January: Mental Wellness Month
Mental Health Awareness Days to Remember
General Mental Health Resources
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
American Psychiatric Association
American Psychological Association
California Department of Health Care Services
California Department of Public Health
California Institute for Behavioral Health Solutions
California Office of the Patient Advocate (rates health care organizations by care quality)
Know the Signs (Suicide Prevention)
Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission
National Council on Aging (Behavioral Health for Seniors)
National Eating Disorders Association
National Institute of Mental Health
National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Teen Line (peer-to-peer mental health support)
General Mental Health Resources
Community-Based Mental Health Resources
African American Mental Health Resources (Each Mind Matters)
Asian and Pacific Islander (API) Mental Health Resources
Latino Mental Health Resources (Each Mind Matters)
LGBTQ Community Mental Health Resources (Each Mind Matters)
National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities
Native American Mental Health Resources (Each Mind Matters)