Dear Kent State University Faculty and Staff:
As we say farewell to summer and welcome another beautiful fall semester, we should be reminded that mental health issues are an increasing concern on college campuses. Kent State is committed to providing safe and secure environments at all locations within our community, and you can be a part of this effort. As a community, we must all be prepared to support our students through emotional distress, crises and other challenging situations by linking them to appropriate services and resources.
You recently received a packet with Step Up and Speak Out suicide and violence prevention materials. Step Up and Speak Out is a collaborative initiative involving Psychological Services, University Health Services, the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and Police Services intended to better educate university community members on how to assist distressed or disruptive individuals.
Each campus has a unique resource card and response guide specific to each location. The response guide will assist you with recognizing behavioral signs and symptoms ranging from minimal risk to self or others, to urgent situations requiring immediate assistance. Additionally, all Kent State students will have access to a crisis text line and a 24-hour support and crisis call line to provide evening and weekend triage service and referrals.
If you wish to review resource information for another campus, please visit the Step Up and Speak Out website at www.kent.edu/stepupspeakout or the Step Up and Speak Out mobile app on Android or Apple platforms.
To request a training session or additional information for your academic department or administrative unit, please contact the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs at 330-672-4050.
It's our campus. It's our community. We're all responsible. Step Up and Speak Out.
Best wishes for a successful academic year!
Sincerely,
Jennifer Kulics, Ph.D. Associate Vice President Division of Student Affairs 330-672-4050
Lamar Hylton, Ph.D. Dean of Students Division of Student Affairs 330-672-2480
Pamela Farer-Singleton, Ph.D. Chief Psychologist Psychological Services University Health Services 330-672-2487
Carrie Berta, Psy.D. Staff Psychologist Psychological Services University Health Services 330-672-2487