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College Recognized For Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Efforts

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has been recognized by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) for the College’s commitment to preventing suicide and promoting mental health resources for learners.

Penn Highlands was one of 11 postsecondary institutions to be added to the list of schools designated as a PA CARES campus. Since May, the PDE has named 26 total institutions of higher education as PA CARES campuses for their work to ensure students have access to support and resources to stay safe, healthy, and well.

“As a community college, we strive to create a culture of care among our students, faculty, and staff,” stated Bridget Hall, Penn Highlands Counselor. “We know that students’ mental health matters for their focus in the classroom, success in courses, and retention from orientation to graduation. By sharing resources and information with our students, we cultivate that culture of care and work with students to ensure that they receive the support necessary to build success inside and outside of the classroom.”

PA CARES, which stands for “Connect, Assess, Respond, Encourage, Support,” recognizes postsecondary institutions that have implemented Act 110 mental health and suicide prevention plans, enabling school staff to engage with the campus community and empowering students to seek help when they need it.

This initiative furthers the efforts of the Shapiro Administration to promote mental health in Pennsylvania’s school communities.

“Suicide is the second leading cause of death on America’s college campuses, a statistic that is sobering, tragic, and preventable,” stated Acting Secretary of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe. “Pennsylvania’s PA CARES campuses are taking a proactive approach, rooted in compassion and humanity, to meaningfully engage with learners and empower them to not just live, but thrive.”

To become a PA CARES campus, postsecondary institutions must provide:

• Contact information for national, state, and local suicide prevention hotlines.
• Crisis intervention services, including contact details for trained mental health professionals focused on suicide prevention, available 24/7.
• Access to mental health services, including health promotion, wellness, counseling, crisis services, and local providers.
• Multimedia resources on mental health and suicide prevention, including warning signs, free services, and mobile apps.
• Student communication plans for outreach on mental health services and suicide prevention.
• Post-intervention plans to communicate with students, staff, and parents after a student suicide.

If you or someone you know is struggling and needs support, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available. You can connect with them at https://www.988lifeline.org/.