University/College Campus Checklist

University/College Campus Checklist

There is heightened awareness of the importance of having quality mental health services available for students on university and college campuses. At present, access to such services is not consistently found across the country. There are numerous reasons for this including stigma, inadequate financial investment in mental health services, as well as the difficulty of coordinating the delivery and provision of mental health services in higher education settings. The following checklist is a tool to begin to assess the mental health services at a campus.

Administrative Policies

• Do you have a mental health management plan in writing?
• Have you allocated enough financial resources to accommodate the plan and all of its components?
• Do you have a Medical Leave policy in place that includes mental health problems?

Risk-Identification Programs

• Do you have a screening program in place?
• Do you have a transitional support program in place for parents and families of incoming students who have already been diagnosed with mental health disorders?
• Have you trained your faculty, coaches, clergy, and student/resident advisors to identify students who may be at risk for suicide and/or suicidal behaviors?
• Have you educated your students so that they are able to identify at-risk behaviors within themselves and among their peers?

On-Campus Support Services

• Do you have an on-site mental health services center?
• Have you hired providers who are appropriately trained to handle suicidal clients? If not, are you willing to train them?
• Do you have an on-site medical center with personnel who can prescribe the appropriate psychotropic agents?
• Do you have a 24-hour emergency service that is accessible to students?
• Do you have a crisis-management plan in place in the event of a suicide or other trauma on campus?
• Do you provide students with support programs (social, academic, etc.)?
• Have you made your students and faculty aware of exactly what services are offered on campus and in the community?
• Have you publicized the names and numbers of on-campus and off-site support providers?

Community-Based Support Services

• Do you have working relationships with community mental health providers to ensure appropriate off-site referrals? Do you know their appointment hours and fees? Have you arranged for a sliding scale? Do they accept insurance?
• Have you identified which hospital/center in the community is on call to handle any campus emergencies?
• Does your university Web site offer links to mental health information and services?