Recommendation 1

Each MUS campus should have a licensed mental health clinician on staff or have readily available through contract services (counselor, social worker, psychologist, mental health nurse practitioner, mental health physician assistant, or psychiatrist) with new funding provided for campuses that do not currently have licensed clinicians on staff to assist with accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and appropriate follow-up.

Recommendation 2

The MUS and campuses should establish guidelines to ensure appropriate individuals and groups are receiving evidence-based suicide prevention training.

Recommendation 3

The MUS and campuses should develop a formal process by which staff across campuses can consult with each other about programming and services.

Recommendation 4

MUS campuses that provide medical care on campus should adhere to the recommendations outlined in the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) report on depression screening.

Recommendation 5

MUS campuses should complete the depression screening survey to establish baseline practices, obstacles to implementation, needed resources, and later complete a follow up survey to measure outcomes.

Recommendation 6

The MUS should provide necessary resources, including compulsory ongoing training for mental health professionals and the formation of a depression screening consortium to encourage implementation and overcome obstacles.

Recommendation 7

Conduct assessments of campus environments to assess the access to lethal means to attempt suicide; create services/policies to help reduce access to lethal means; review policies and practices related to prescription drugs, access to heights and firearms.

Recommendation 8

Review programs and policies that could enhance student safety and implement a system-wide protocol and tracking system for suicide attempts and completions.

Recommendation 9

Increase partnerships with other mental health and suicide prevention stakeholders, increasing communication between all involved, developing efficiencies and best practices and sharing resources to combat student mental health issues and suicide from a holistic approach.

Recommendation 10

The MUS should explore funding/resource availability and determine funding sources to increase mental health services to students.

Recommendation 11

The MUS should host a biennial summit on student mental health and suicide prevention.