Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention

CAPS offers a variety of outreach presentations to the university community to aid in the emotional and psychological development of students in the university environment for the purpose of enhancing performance. Our presentations are geared towards prevention of mental illness, enhancement of academic success, improving coping and life skills, and increasing awareness and knowledge. CAPS programming is developed with the diverse KU student body in mind and aims to be relevant and inclusive. CAPS is happy to accommodate your outreach presentation request given sufficient time and staff availability.  Program request should be submitted three weeks prior to the requested presentation date. If you would like to make a presentation request please fill out the form below and the outreach coordinator will respond to your request within 48 hours. Please direct any questions to Eric Lowery, LSCSW elowery@ku.edu. This is not a request for therapy services. If you would like an individual appointment for therapy services please call CAPS at 785-864-2277.

Jayhawks Talk Logo

#Jayhawks Talk: Suicide Prevention Training for Gatekeepers

Jayhawks Talk about suicide— even though it may be difficult at times. We offer a 3-hour gatekeeper training, #JayhawksTalk: Suicide Prevention Training for Gatekeepers, for faculty, staff, and students to increase skills and confidence in providing critical support for students in crisis.

What is #JayhawksTalk? It is an experiential training to equip participants to:

  • Know suicide warning signs and risk and protective factors
  • Respond to students in emotional crisis and ask students about suicidal thoughts
  • Lessen these students’ feelings of isolation
  • Help these students connect to a professional resource

We offer #JayhawksTalk (formerly Campus Connect) training sessions open to the community several times per year and can provide this training for your group upon request. To request a training, email emily.kubalik@ku.edu.

Fresh Check Day, the signature program of the Jordan Porco Foundation, is an uplifting mental health promotion and suicide prevention event that includes interactive expo booths, peer-to-peer messaging, support of multiple campus departments and groups, free food, entertainment, and exciting prizes and giveaways. Fresh Check Day aims to create an approachable and hopeful atmosphere where students are encouraged to engage in dialogue about mental health and helps to build a bridge between students and the mental health resources available on campus, in the community, and nationally. For more information about Fresh Check Day visit its website.