CAPS Outreach is multi-faceted and comprehensive. Simply, it's a way to reach all 52,000 of our University of Michigan students. Together, we can all change the story about college student mental health.
What is outreach?
Outreach is about increasing college student mental health awareness through prevention, awareness, education, and stigma reduction. Through outreach, CAPS staff can connect with the larger U-M community and ultimately strengthen our “community of caring.”
Who do we reach through outreach?
We are essentially connecting with students who do not traditionally utilize individual or group therapy. These could include students who may want to know more about how to help a friend, or students who may experience stigma about help seeking, or students who may need support, but not necessarily counseling. CAPS creates a "web of support" not only for students but also encourages staff and faculty involvement through a variety of education and prevention efforts.
Campus-Wide Initiatives
- Take action - The CAPS umbrella campaign aims to raise college student mental health awareness on the U-M campus.
- Leaders at their Best - A campus initiative focused on tenets of positive psychology (e.g., mindfulness, gratitude, self-compassion).
Suicide Prevention
- QPR - Question, Persuade, Refer is a 90-minute training for faculty, staff, and students focused on concrete behavioral steps in which to Question a person about suicidal thoughts, Persuade them to get help, and Refer them to appropriate resources. The training also includes identifying warning signs, national and U-M-specific statistics, and myths surrounding suicide.
- QPR Part 2 - Question, Persuade, Refer Part 2 is a follow-up suicide prevention training incorporating multicultural considerations, what happens when a student is hospitalized, boundary setting, self-care, and more experiential role plays.
- Do something: Stop Student Suicide - A multi-year plan of action to change campus culture, increase resiliency and hope, and create an environment that is actively and visibly engaged in stopping college student suicide. The Messages of Hope is a component of this initiative and involves students spreading hope across the U-M campus by writing inspirational messages on wooden tiles to students who may be struggling with thoughts of suicide.
Student Engagement
- UHC Student Advisory Board - The UHC SAB is a diverse group of University of Michigan undergraduate and graduate students who advise CAPS on matters of how CAPS provides mental health outreach to all students, provides input on various agency decisions, and is involved in staff searches.
- CAPS in Action - CIA involves University of Michigan students who are dedicated to making the U-M community a healthier environment around mental health. This is an active and hands-on group, focused on creating and implementing mental health outreach efforts that empower students to enhance a culture of care and inclusion.
- Wolverine Support Network - WSN is a student-led peer support program. WSN is designed to empower students to create a safe community in support of mental well-being and identity development through peer-led support groups and wellness activities.
Strengthening Community
- Workshop Presentations - CAPS offers workshops throughout the year, ranging from CAPS 101 to stress management to time management, and procrastination.
- Large Scale Tabling Events - Engage with the diverse U-M student population in a welcoming and informative environment.
- Social Media - CAPS regularly connects with U-M students through Instagram.