Mental Health

Submitted by rebekah.enzler on Thu, 04/24/2008 - 3:13pm.

Mental Health Role in Campus Security

by Lynn Carter, Deputy Director, Department of Mental Health

Soon after the tragic events that occurred in April 2007 at Virginia Tech, it became apparent that response to campus violence and possible prevention of future incidents would require partnerships between campus officials, law enforcement and mental health professionals. 

 

These recommendations have implications for the role of mental health professionals on campus and in the community. Recommendations are intended to assist campuses in identifying potential safety risks, providing services that may prevent future tragedies, and collaborating across disciplines with law enforcement and campus authorities to work in the interest of the safety of students, staff, and faculty on and visitors to the 56 campuses scattered across the state of Missouri.

 

This section of the web page is designed to provide a “toolkit” and resource clearinghouse for individuals attempting to implement recommendations of the Campus Security Task Force (CSTF). Several specific recommendations of the CSTF relate to Department of Mental Health’s (DMH) role in:

  • Involvement in emergency planning and preparedness efforts;
  • Participation in interdisciplinary risk assessments;
  • Referral and access to needed mental health services, including civil involuntary detention for mental health treatment;
  • Confidentiality limitations and notification requirements related to mental health patients;
  • Supports after an emergency event; and
  • Provision of community resources to supplement campus mental health response capabilities after an emergency event.

The content of this website is structured to support individuals and teams charged with campus safety, implementing these recommendations, or anyone interested in improved planning for collaboration among campus officials, law enforcement, emergency response authorities and mental health to provide needed mental health supports in crisis situations.

 

Resources

NEW! Mental health and higher education campus emergency planning seminar 101

Mental Health Related Recommendations by Campus Security Task Force

Access Crisis Intervention Hotline

Disaster Communication Guidebook: Promoting Emotional Well-Being When Preparing for Disasters

Electronic Access to Mental Health All-Hazards Disaster Planning Guidance Booklet 

Campus Suicide Prevention Grant Opportunity 

Breakdown in Providing Mental Health Services (Article from Governing)

Power Point by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention on Mental Health in Disasters and Other Crises

U.S. Secret Services Information on Safety

Federal Resource Collection on Disaster Behavioral Health

Suicide in Missouri

Student Rights Related to Mental Health

Student Manual on Mental Health

Mental Health Facts for Students and Families

Recent Study Released by the Center for the Study of Collegiate Mental Health

ActiveMinds Focuses on University Student Mental Health

 

Mental Health Related Recommendations by Campus Security Task Force ›