Following Suicide Prevention month in September, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released its Garrett Lee Smith (GLS) Campus Suicide Prevention Grant opportunity this week. Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education that have not previously been funded by this program. Grant funds may not be used for mental health or substance abuse treatment services; rather, this program is aimed at developing prevention strategies. Intended results of this program are to:

• Increase collaboration among campus and community partners to deliver the message that suicide prevention is everyone’s responsibility;
• Increase the amount of training to students, faculty, and staff on suicide prevention and mental health promotion;
• Increase the number of educational seminars and informational materials for students, faculty, staff, and family members on suicide prevention, identification, and reduction of risk factors, such as depression, substance use/abuse, interpersonal violence;
• Increase help-seeking among students and reduce negative attitudes for seeking care for mental and substance use disorders among students, and
• Increase the promotion of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

SAMHSA anticipates making 15 grant awards of up to $102,000 per year for the three-year project period. Cost sharing is required. Applications are due December 7, 2016.