October, 2007

Student Affairs Leader - October 1, 2007 - Full Issue PDF
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University of Michigan’s Three-Pronged Approach to Student Mental Health
With the rising scrutiny of colleges and universities’ responses to student mental health issues, it becomes increasingly important to learn from each other about innovative programs. We are pleased to describe some new programs at the University of Michigan. Through these programs, we aim to address student mental health from a holistic perspective. Specifically, we have initiated programs with three basic goals in mind: understand the issues more deeply, expand the set of resources, and continue learning from each other.

On-Campus Report Capsules
National Mental Health Screening Day is October 9, which coincides with Mental Illness Awareness week. Most of this issue is dedicated to the descriptions of successful mental health programs on two campuses.

University of Kentucky’s Suicide Prevention Program
By Tina Bryant
The Question-Persuade-Refer (QPR) suicide prevention program at the University of Kentucky began in fall 2003 following the suicide of a student, Kevin Alan Graham. He was a 21-year-old rising senior who had received an ROTC cadet scholarship to the university. Like many college students, he struggled with a few classes, leading him to change his major and his pre-med career path. The loss of his lifelong career aspirations contributed to a sense of hopelessness about his future.

Ethic of Care for New Student Affairs Professionals: Keeping Them Out of the Trenches
By Kathleen Manning
At its very core, student affairs is about working with students to enable holistic development. Decisions about a student’s welfare are based on what is best for the student in the context of what is best for the community. As such, decisions are a mix of care and relationship.