Starting the fall, ºÚÁÏÍø will offer an evidence-based suicide prevention course through funding from the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (OSPF). The class will be offered through the Kent State College of Applied and Technical Studies’ Bachelor of Social Work program at the Ashtabula, Salem and Tuscarawas campuses.
Kent State is the first university in Ohio to provide the course to its students outside of the original course developers at the University of Cincinnati, Old Dominion University, and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
WHY: According to the Ohio Department of Health, Ohio averaged over 1,700 suicide deaths yearly between 2016-2021. Despite the increasing numbers, there was little education for practitioners related to suicide prevention outside of their experience in the field. OSPF and its institutional partners have created this new course for colleges and universities to offer to undergraduate and graduate students. Kent State is the first university to offer it (beyond those schools participating in OSPF’s pilot program). Kent State is not only offering the course to students in its new Bachelor of Social Work program but extending the opportunity to all health profession students.
WHEN: Thursday, July 13, at 10 a.m.
WHERE:
WHO:
- Peggy Shadduck, Ph.D., Kent State vice president for Regional Campuses and dean of the College of Applied and Technical Studies
- Matt Butler, Kent State lecturer and program director for the Bachelor of Social Work program
- Austin Lucas, Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation program director
Learn more about the Bachelor of Social Work at Kent State
CONTACTS:
Jason Tirotta, manager, strategic communications and marketing for Regional Campuses, ºÚÁÏÍø, jtirotta@kent.edu, 440-964-4567
Cassie Martindell, communications director, Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation,cassie.martindell@ohiospf.org, 614-429-1528 ex. 113