News at 4Cs

Cape Cod Community College Receives Suicide Prevention Grant to Create Internal, External Mental Health Structures

Cape Cod Community College (“4Cs”) has received the prestigious Garrett Lee Smith Campus Suicide Prevention Grant to continue their work in providing internal and external support systems for students. The grant will provide the College with $306,000 over three years to expand an infrastructure so its Student Wellness team can better identify and intervene with students at risk for mental health and substance use issues before they reach crisis. 4Cs is one of 25 awardees of the funding nationwide and is the only recipient in Massachusetts.

“One of the goals of the grant is to create a network of support through coordinated and collaborative efforts both on campus and in the community,” said Dr. Maura Weir, Chief Wellness Officer at 4Cs and Co-Chair of the Cape and Islands Suicide Prevention Coalition. “We will also be training faculty, staff, and students to respond effectively to peers with mental and substance use disorders as well as upgrading our screening process for early intervention. This is a great moment for our College as we continue to work hard in addressing the wellness needs of our students.”

The award is the latest in a series of recognitions the College has received for its work in prioritizing mental health and suicide prevention. Last Spring, 4Cs President Dr. John Cox received the Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention Leadership award and this past June, the College hosted a training where more than forty community members learned about providing a post-vention response to a sudden or traumatic death which includes suicide or overdose.

“We are very grateful to receive this grant, enabling our team to prioritize and put resources behind this extremely powerful cause,” said President Cox. “We are especially thankful for Dr. Weir and our Wellness team for their tireless work to make mental health a centerpiece of the student experience. We know that our students are balancing many life responsibilities while attending college, and that can make for some very stressful moments. With grant support like this, and the work happening here every day, we can help students navigate those challenges and build a stronger community.”

The College will also be recognizing National Suicide Prevention Month with their on-campus ribbon ceremony on Thursday, September 14 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. in West Barnstable. The event is free to attend, and all are welcome.

 If you need help or support, please call 988, the new number for the National Lifeline and Crisis Line.