Carnegie Mellon University
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CaPS Outreach Prevention & Education (COPE)

With COPE, CaPS engages the Carnegie Mellon University community through holistic and inclusive trainings that increase access to services, reduce barriers and help eliminate the stigma around seeking help.

COPE's philosophy around community engagement is grounded in a culturally inclusive approach that allows us to assess and create programming around the unique needs of the campus community. Together we can facilitate an understanding of self, others and the community around us.

Request a Training

Any student, faculty or staff affiliated with CMU can request COPE services. We can consult with you and tailor a training or workshop to fit the needs of your department or group.

Note: Please submit a programming request at least two weeks prior to your event date. If we cannot meet your request, we can likely be helpful in exploring alternative options.

Types of trainings we offer: supporting student mental health, attending to my own well-being, understanding Counseling and Psychological Services (CaPS) resources, and more.

COPE Services Provide:

Information Services: Sharing information about CaPS services and mental health and wellness at resource fairs, orientation activities and welcome receptions

Relationship Building: Participation and attendance at community events and activities

Training and Education: Developing awareness, knowledge and skills in the campus community around mental health via panel presentations, workshop facilitation and skill trainings

Consultation/Assessment: Professional consultation and assessment with members of the campus community, including Residential Education staff, academic departments, student organizations and public safety representatives

Individual and Community Intervention: Facilitating individual and communal healing, including conflict mediation and postvention groups

COPE Trainings

Recognize | Assess | Understand

Originally designed by Syracuse University, specifically for a college/university community, Pathways for Suicide Prevention Training is an experiential training focused on enhancing a person’s knowledge, awareness and skills concerning college student suicide. Emphasis is placed on developing empathic listening and communication skills and the ability to ask students compassionately and directly about their suicidal thoughts. This training employs a multicultural framework and seeks to enhance understanding of and ability to respond to students from intersecting identities.

Pathways for Suicide Prevention Training is a three-hour, interactive training program, which will include:

  • Review of suicide statistics and facts
  • Discussion of suicide warning signs
  • Instruction on how to ask students if they are thinking about suicide and how to refer students to mental health professionals
  • Discussion of the impact of marginalization on mental health
  • Review of effective communication and relationship-building skills
  • Discussion of typical emotional reactions experienced both by students in crisis and responders
  • Participation in experiential exercises and role plays

Fall 2025 Training Dates

MHFA is an evidence based, international education program proven to be effective in teaching adults how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance abuse challenges among adults. You will build skills you need to reach out and provide initial support to those who are struggling. You will also learn how to connect them to the appropriate support. This training is offered in collaboration with Health Promotion and Student Support Resources. 

Individuals trained in MHFA will be able to:
  •   Recognize common signs and symptoms of mental health challenges
  •   Recognize common signs and symptoms of substance use challenges
  •   Understand how to interact with a person in crisis
  •   Know how to connect a person with help
  •   Use self-care tool techniques

Fall 2025 Training Dates

This faculty-designed professional development opportunity is meant to serve as a broad overview of how best to aid students at Carnegie Mellon University. Following this session (a 90-minute, in-person presentation with 30 minutes of asynchronous work), faculty should be able to (1) articulate key findings about the CMU student mental health experience, (2) describe the vital role of faculty in supporting students, (3) identify the appropriate methods to assist students, and (4) describe the available support resources on campus.

2025-26 Training Dates

  • Monday, December 8 – 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM
  • Thursday, December 11 – 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM
  • Wednesday, January 7 – 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM
  • Tuesday, January 13 – 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM
    (please note: this is a closed session intended for Faculty Senators only)
  • Friday, January 23 – 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM
  • Monday, January 26 – 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM
  • Thursday, February 12 – 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM
  • Wednesday, February 18 – 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM
  • Saturday, February 21 – 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM
  • Monday, February 23 – 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM
  • Wednesday, March 4 – 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM
  • Thursday, March 12 – 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM
  • Thursday, April 16 – 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM
  • Monday, April 27 – 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM
  • Thursday, May 14 – 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM
  • Monday, May 18 – 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM
  • Wednesday, May 27 – 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM

Please register through FocusU.

This training is sponsored by the Office of the Provost and facilitated by a Student Affairs team.