Notre Dame of Maryland University was recently awarded a $235,527 federal grant which will greatly increase the University’s capacity to assist students in need of mental health services or substance abuse prevention and support.
The funding, to be distributed across a three-year period, was awarded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Garrett Lee Smith (GLS) Suicide Prevention Grant. It will support Notre Dame’s new Gator Hope Initiative, which will increase the Counseling Center’s ability to serve undergraduate and graduate students at risk for mental illness, suicidality, and substance abuse.
“We are thrilled to receive this transformative grant, which will significantly enhance the mental health support available to our students at Notre Dame of Maryland University,” said Dr. Marie Allee, director of the Counseling Center. “This funding will enable us to provide critical emergency mental health assessments, comprehensive training for our counselors in crisis intervention, and essential support for our faculty, staff, and students to help identify and refer students in need.
“Additionally, we are excited to offer virtual counseling sessions for our virtual students, and to establish an emergency fund to assist students in crisis with copays and fees for psychiatric treatment,” Dr. Allee continued. “This grant represents a wonderful step forward in ensuring the well-being and success of our student community.”
The Gator Hope Initiative will provide increased training for faculty and staff in identification and referral to treatment supports for students presenting with suicidal ideation or substance abuse issues. The initiative will use I CAN HELP, a program utilized by colleges and universities across the United States to support early detection, mental health literacy and suicide prevention.
The initiative will additionally enhance NDMU’s developing peer education program. Peer educators will have the ability to become certified through the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, and they will gain access to training which will help them develop skills to refer and respond to fellow students’ needs.
SAMHSA is an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. NDMU was one of just 30 institutions across the United States awarded funding through the agency’s fiscal year 2024 GLS Suicide Prevention Grant Program.
