The status of students’ mental health is a growing concern for universities across the nation. From the National Collegiate Health Assessment, three of the top five impediments to academic performance as reported by TCU students are stress, anxiety, and depression. Faculty play a key role in recognizing the warning signs of mental health and facilitating referrals. Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) is a nationally recognized workshop which trains individuals to become “gatekeepers.” According to the Surgeon General’s National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (2001), a gatekeeper is someone in a position to recognize a crisis and the warning signs that someone may be contemplating suicide.

This workshop will provide faculty with the tools to identify warning signs and risk factors for suicide and poor mental health. We will also cover how to ask a student if they are having thoughts of suicide, and how to refer these students to a variety of campus resources for help. We will finish with a deeper discussion for strategies on how faculty can support the mental health of their students.