Program Overview

Introduction to Bobcats Who Care

Bobcats Who Care is an interactive gatekeeper training program designed to teach participants how to recognize and respond to individuals on campus who may be in distress or contemplating suicide. The training aims to enhance participants' knowledge, awareness, and skills concerning suicide and suicide prevention.

Training Topics

• Suicide and its impact on campus
• Own emotional reactions to suicide
• Warning signs to suicide
• Making meaningful connections and communicating with those contemplating suicide
• Asking directly if someone is considering suicide
• Connecting a person in distress with mental health resources both on and off campus

Why This Training Matters

Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for those ages 18-25 in the United States. National surveys report that 13% of college students contemplate suicide each year. At Ohio University, that would translate to nearly 3,900 students. Yet, the overwhelming majority of college students who die by suicide are unknown to campus mental health professionals, and the vast majority of students who think about suicide do not seek out professional resources.

Training Details

Bobcats Who Care is modeled after Campus Connect, a suicide prevention gatekeeper program developed by Dr. Cory Wallack at Syracuse University. This training is completed in groups of ~25 participants and requires a three-hour commitment.

Training Format

The training can be conducted in-person or virtually via Microsoft Teams. For in-person training, a location on campus is reserved. Once all details are solidified, participants receive an Outlook Calendar invitation with the training details.

Requesting a Training

To request a training, a form must be completed at least 3 weeks in advance of the desired training time. If the group has fewer than 20 participants, it may be combined with other small groups.

Becoming a Core Trainer

Core trainers are faculty and staff who are invested in suicide prevention and have been trained to facilitate Bobcats Who Care with students, faculty, staff, and other campus partners. Core trainers operate in pairs to provide the training and are not required to be mental health professionals.