Garrett Lee Smith Campus Suicide Prevention

The Garrett Lee Smith Campus Suicide Prevention program aims to enhance behavioral health services for college students, particularly focusing on those at risk for suicide, depression, serious mental illness, emotional disturbances, and substance use disorders that may impede academic success. It adopts a comprehensive public health and evidence-based approach to prevent and reduce mental health issues and substance use disorders, promote help-seeking behaviors, reduce stigma, and improve early identification and treatment of at-risk students so they can complete their studies successfully. Notably, the program waives cost-sharing requirements for minority-serving institutions and community colleges, emphasizing accessibility for these groups. The initiative is administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration under the Department of Health and Human Services, with Portland Ridley serving as the point of contact. This effort represents a critical investment in supporting the mental well-being and academic success of college communities nationwide.