As I’m sure you’ve noticed, students today face increasing pressures that can lead to emotional distress, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and even thoughts of suicide. As faculty and staff, we can take small steps that make a big difference in getting these students the support they need so that they can be successful while there here with us.
Student Support is making an online program available to you in the hopes of helping to create a safer and more supportive campus. This online simulation, At-Risk for Faculty & Staff, can help the user learn to notice signs of distress, use techniques to discuss our concerns, and, if necessary, refer students to appropriate resources.
At-Risk for Faculty & Staff lets you practice these challenging conversations at your own pace through role-play with virtual students. In a national study of effectiveness, this simulation has been shown to increase the number of student referrals to counseling and support services. It is also listed in the Suicide Prevention Resource Center’s Best Practices Registry and under review for inclusion in the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices.
To complete the simulation, follow the instructions below:
- Go to https://kognitocampus.com/
- Create a new account
- Use enrollment key : srstaff
- Follow the on-screen instructions
- Choose your simulation and click “launch”
The experience can be completed in multiple sittings, your progress will be saved and once you’ve finished, you’ll receive a certificate of completion for your portfolio.
An additional note about the simulation, several times the “Dean of Students” office is referred to within the module. At Slippery Rock, our Student Support office functions as the Dean of Students. You can always let us know your concerns to us by connecting to our campus Care Network.
If you have any questions or if any additional information would be helpful, please contact me at: karla.fonner@sru.edu or by calling 724-738-2953.
