Fifty-three students from the School of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts (STELA) attended the first phase of the PFA training provided by the Center for Counseling and Wellness (CCW) in collaboration with the SSC-STELA assembly last 8 October 2024. This initiative is in line with the worldwide campaign for suicide prevention. This year, the World Health Organization (WHO) focused on the theme “Changing the Narrative on Suicide” with a call to action to “Start the Conversation.” At SLU Center for Counseling and Wellness, we aim to support this global effort through our campaign, “Hope for Tomorrow,” by fostering conversations and skills development that focus on suicide prevention and mental health.
The Psychological First Aid (PFA) Training is designed to equip participants with the skills to effectively respond to mental health crises and an opportunity to build a community of student volunteers who can contribute to crisis management efforts on campus.
The training marks the first phase of creating a volunteer network of Louisian students skilled in PFA service delivery. Future phases will include strategic planning and the development of protocols for crisis response. Additionally, this initiative aims to foster a strong “circle of confidence” to establish a supportive system for volunteers as they serve their peers and the wider community.
Participants are not only equipped with valuable skills but are considered to be important contributors to the call for community-based mental health programs. This endeavor is aligned with SDG 3 on health and wellbeing as well as CICM’s core advocacy for peace.
This critical effort aims to promote hope, understanding, and support within the Louisian community during any mental health crisis through the power of skills sharing and collaboration. (Article and photos by the Center for Counseling and Wellness)
Interested in joining future PFA training sessions? Click here: PFA TRAINING INTEREST FORM
