The University of Missouri announced the launch RESPOND, a program focused on educating students and faculty to aid others on campus with mental health issues. The program was launched on November 6 at a launch and reception event in the MU Student Center.
David Wallace, the director of the MU Counseling Center, says the program is to enable people on campus to be able to help their peers, teachers, advisors and friends if they are dealing with mental health issues. “We want people to know how to intervene, how to help them, and how to get them the help they need. And we believe that this will do that,” Wallace said.
The program will hold free 8-hour training sessions throughout 2015 for MU students and faculty. The first workshop will be on December 19.
Jessica Semler, one of the professors leading the workshop, says that the goal of the program is to make people aware of the signs and symptoms of mental health issues so that problems are recognized and handled sooner. “Our hope for this program is that it’s not just the mental health professional on campus that can be helpful and respond. And that we have a large community on campus that can help and respond,” Semler said.
There will be at least 5 more workshops in 2015 to focus on educating members of MU’s campus about mental health issues.