Carnegie Mellon University
Division of Student Affairs  ›  Counseling and Psychological Services (CaPS)  ›  Services  ›  Outreach Prevention & Education

CaPS Outreach Prevention & Education (COPE)

With COPE, CaPS engages the CMU 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.

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 issues, 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
  • Clinical Intervention: Facilitating individual and communal healing, including conflict mediation and postvention groups

CMU CONNECT

Originally designed by Syracuse University, specifically for a college/university community, CMU Connect 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 skills, communication skills, and the ability to ask students compassionately and directly about their suicidal thoughts. 
CMU Connect employs a multicultural framework and seeks to enhance understanding of and ability to respond to students from numerous intersecting identities.

Campus Connect is a three-hour, interactive training program, which will include:

  • Review of college student 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 2023 Dates:

Mental Health First Aid: MHFA

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 Promotions 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


Training Dates for 2023-2024 Academic Year:

 

 

 

LGBTQIA+ Connection Hour 

In person 

Tuesdays, 6:00-7:00pm  

The LGBTQIA+ Connection Hour is a community group housed within CaPS. It provides a safer space for students within the LGBTQIA+ umbrella to discuss their experiences with all things related to gender or sexual identity, the CMU experience, family relationships, and more. In this group, you will practice relating to others, forming connections, and building community in a queer and gender-affirming environment. A pre-group consultation is required. Contact Jayme Jenkins, Ph.D. for more information. 

Request a Training!

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

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.


Examples of Trainings we have done in the past are:

  • Supporting Students' Mental Health
  • Attending to my own Wellbeing
  • CaPS Resources 

 

Let's Talk

Let's Talk is a drop-in service that offers an informal, confidential conversation with a CaPS counselor at various campus locations and on Zoom. Let’s Talk is not a substitute for therapy and does not constitute mental health treatment. Let’s Talk counselors can listen to specific concerns, offer support, help explore solutions, and introduce you to what it’s like to speak with a member of our staff.

Learn more about Let's Talk

Supporting Student Well-Being: Faculty Professional Development in Recognizing & Assisting Students in Distress

This is a 90-minute faculty-designed, professional development opportunity that is meant to serve as a broad overview of how best to aid students at Carnegie Mellon University. Ideally following this session, 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.

Training Dates for 2023-2024 Academic Year:

Request a session for your department or program

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