TEXAS, USA — The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, in collaboration with the Texas Suicide Prevention Collaborative, will host a free, online Texas Higher Education Suicide Prevention Spring Summit from 8 a.m. to noon May 14.
Suicide is the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It was the second leading cause of death for people ages 12-24 with incidents increasing 2.7 %between 2000 and 2021.
According to the National Institutes of Health, among young adults, more than 40% of ages 18-25 with mental illness do not have access to mental health care.
The summit is meant to help address those issues, TTUHSC said.
“The goal of this summit is for college campus administrators from across Texas to develop relationships to help navigate implementing mental health services and other supports for students experiencing mental health challenges during their college careers,” TTUHSC Department of Psychiatry and director of the Texas Tech Mental Health Institute, Nancy Treviño, Ph.D., said.
Presentations at the summit include:
- “Eight Dimensions of Wellness,” Logan Winkleman, Ph.D., TTUHSC School of Health Professions director of Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- “Higher Education Policy/Panel Discussion,” Hannah Vasquez, Texas Suicide Prevention Collaborative Policy Fellow; Alan Korinek, Ph.D., and Kristie Collins from Program of Assistance for Students and Employee Assistance Program
- “Intervention Approaches in Higher Education,” David B. Goldston, Ph.D., child and family psychologist, professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Services and professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Duke Health
“Although they are not the target audience, college students and parents also may attend the summit,” Treviño said. “Our hope is this summit will provide a better understanding of policies and resources college campuses are required to offer.”
Co-chairs for the event are Treviño and Terri McBryde, higher education lead for the Texas Suicide Prevention Collaborative.
The event is sponsored by the Texas Suicide Prevention Collaborative, Texas Health & Human Services Commission Gulf Coast Center, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Resilient Youth, Safer Environment Grant.
Click here to register.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story contains discussions about suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline is available by calling or texting 988. An online chat is available at 988lifeline.org.