APO's National Program of Emphasis
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Alpha Phi Omega encourages all chapters to participate in several national activities, which are designed to enhance the Fraternity's impact on the nation. Each Alpha Phi Omega National Convention selects a program of emphasis for National Service Week, which focuses service activities on a particular area. The 2016 National Convention chose "National Suicide Prevention" as the 2017-2018 program of emphasis. Every chapter's annual service program should include at least one project in support of this national program of emphasis. Following is a summary of the events the Colorado School of Mines' chapter of Alpha Phi Omega has hosted/participated in during 2017-2018 in support of the current National Program of Emphasis. |
Mu Pi Chapter felt strongly that suicide prevention was an issue that needed to be better addressed on our campus. Mines has very high admission standards and is an intense academic experience, which can contribute to the mental health challenges typical college students face. There is a lot of stigma surrounding speaking up about these challenges or seeking assistance, and we believe the Mines culture can foster the pressure to ‘suck it up’ or ‘tough it out’ even more than the typical university.
Starting in the spring of 2017, Mu Pi Chapter appointed a National Service Week chair to coordinate our 2017 National Service Week events as well as events supporting the National Program of Emphasis throughout the academic year. From the outset, our primary goal was to create an ongoing campus-wide conversation about suicide prevention and mental health, not just to do a couple of independent awareness events about this topic and be done. Therefore, our top priority was to begin our efforts with a dialogue with Mines administration and other key campus organizations to bring everyone to the table to assess needs and current resources available. Our initial conversations included the Counseling Center at Colorado School of Mines, Active Minds @ Mines, and the Colorado School of Mines Dean of Students. Following is a statement from the Dean of Students from the summer of 2017:
Starting in the spring of 2017, Mu Pi Chapter appointed a National Service Week chair to coordinate our 2017 National Service Week events as well as events supporting the National Program of Emphasis throughout the academic year. From the outset, our primary goal was to create an ongoing campus-wide conversation about suicide prevention and mental health, not just to do a couple of independent awareness events about this topic and be done. Therefore, our top priority was to begin our efforts with a dialogue with Mines administration and other key campus organizations to bring everyone to the table to assess needs and current resources available. Our initial conversations included the Counseling Center at Colorado School of Mines, Active Minds @ Mines, and the Colorado School of Mines Dean of Students. Following is a statement from the Dean of Students from the summer of 2017:
These initial conversations quickly pulled in other campus and community organizations. While there were already efforts towards suicide prevention and mental health on campus, we believe these conversations helped bring key players together resulting in more public and collaborative efforts. Since 2017, Mu Pi Chapter has organized or participated in several events outside of NSW to address suicide prevention and mental health. These events include:
Let’s Talk About Suicide: Mu Pi Chapter organized three “Let’s Talk About Suicide” events during the fall of 2017. These events were to share resources, provide insight into mental health awareness, and debrief from NSW. The first “Let’s Talk About Suicide” event was held on National Suicide Prevention Day 2017. Heather Trish from the Jefferson Center for Mental Health was invited to Mines for a ‘Lunch and Learn’ to talk about suicide statistics, warning signs, risk factors, and coping skills. The final “Let’s Talk About Suicide” event focused on discussing takeaways from NSW events and how the campus could continue suicide prevention efforts moving forward.
1-in-4 Fair: The Dean of Students suggested that APO help plan an event for the spring of 2018 that focused on mental health on campus. The 1-in-4 Fair was created as a result of collaboration with Active Minds @ Mines, the Counseling Center at Colorado School of Mines, and Be Well at Mines.
- Let’s Talk About Suicide
- 1-in-4 Fair
- Community Wellness Fair
- Mental Health Student Advisory Board
- Suicide Prevention Day 2018
Let’s Talk About Suicide: Mu Pi Chapter organized three “Let’s Talk About Suicide” events during the fall of 2017. These events were to share resources, provide insight into mental health awareness, and debrief from NSW. The first “Let’s Talk About Suicide” event was held on National Suicide Prevention Day 2017. Heather Trish from the Jefferson Center for Mental Health was invited to Mines for a ‘Lunch and Learn’ to talk about suicide statistics, warning signs, risk factors, and coping skills. The final “Let’s Talk About Suicide” event focused on discussing takeaways from NSW events and how the campus could continue suicide prevention efforts moving forward.
1-in-4 Fair: The Dean of Students suggested that APO help plan an event for the spring of 2018 that focused on mental health on campus. The 1-in-4 Fair was created as a result of collaboration with Active Minds @ Mines, the Counseling Center at Colorado School of Mines, and Be Well at Mines.
The name of the fair is from the statistic that 1 in 4 adults suffer from mental illness in a given year. Although the four groups (APO, Counseling Center, Be Well, and Active Minds @ Mines) were the lead event coordinators, many other organizations helped host booths and provide volunteers. These included:
- PostSecretU (Active Minds @ Mines): A campaign where students write their concerns or secrets anonymously on cards. These cards are then displayed on campus. The idea is that students who read the cards will not feel alone in their concerns.
- Warm Fuzzies (APO): A booth where students write notes of appreciation to important people in their lives.
- Alcohol Awareness (Mines for Recovery): A resource booth to inform students of local community resources, offer advice for approaching friends with potential addiction issues, and a fun game of understanding what a serving size is.
- Language of the Brain (Greek Life): A booth designed to show the physical implications of depression and stress on the human brain. The booth shows color images of brain scans showing how these mental health issues can physically impact a person’s brain.
- Self-care (oSTEM): A booth where people are given questionnaires on how well they practice self-care. This booth focuses on doing small things every day to take care of yourself.
- Resource Booth (Counseling Center): A booth distributing mental health resources for self-care as well as other campus, community and national resources.
- Mural (Art Club): A mural was created for people to sign in solidarity with those struggling with mental health issues. Featured in the mural is the saying by Malcolm X, “When ‘I’ is replaced with ‘we’ even illness becomes wellness”. The backdrop is Mt. Zion which has the Mines’ “M”. The mural is currently hanging on a main wall in the Student Center.
Filmmakers at Mines was hired to document the 1-in-4 Fair. This video is still shown on the community video screens around campus and features an interview with the 2017 Mu Pi Chapter NSW Chair, Peter Weddle.
Community Wellness Fair: The Community Wellness Fair was organized by the Rotary Club of Golden and held at Golden High School in April 2018. The goal of this event was to provide resources and education to children, youth and their families to help achieve and maintain mental well-being. Mental health professionals led classes and discussion groups, there was a keynote speaker, and a booth area where numerous local groups offered resources. Our chapter hosted a booth at this event where we publicized our 2017 NSW activities and actively solicited community input and connections to inform our 2018 NSW activities. We also had members participate in sessions and network with the other booths. This event was extremely helpful as it provided us with a list of numerous community contacts, ideas for NSW projects, and offers of support in various ways. More information about this event is available at https://goldenrotary.org/fair.
Mental Health Student Advisory Board: In the fall of 2018 Colorado School of Mines organized advisory boards on mental health to continue the campus-wide conversation regarding suicide prevention and mental health. The current president of Mu Pi Chapter was invited to participate as a member of the student advisory board. We believe this is another example of how Mu Pi Chapter has impacted our campus in regards to suicide prevention and established itself as a leader of suicide prevention efforts at Colorado School of Mines.
Suicide Prevention Day 2018: Colorado School of Mines organized a resource and awareness table for Suicide Prevention Day 2018 on September 10th. Mu Pi Chapter members volunteered to help staff this table and assisted in handing out resources and ribbons for suicide prevention. The day wrapped up with a campus-wide gathering to discuss suicide prevention, hold a moment of silence for Mines students lost to suicide in the past year, and to learn about resources available to those that are struggling.
Mental Health Student Advisory Board: In the fall of 2018 Colorado School of Mines organized advisory boards on mental health to continue the campus-wide conversation regarding suicide prevention and mental health. The current president of Mu Pi Chapter was invited to participate as a member of the student advisory board. We believe this is another example of how Mu Pi Chapter has impacted our campus in regards to suicide prevention and established itself as a leader of suicide prevention efforts at Colorado School of Mines.
Suicide Prevention Day 2018: Colorado School of Mines organized a resource and awareness table for Suicide Prevention Day 2018 on September 10th. Mu Pi Chapter members volunteered to help staff this table and assisted in handing out resources and ribbons for suicide prevention. The day wrapped up with a campus-wide gathering to discuss suicide prevention, hold a moment of silence for Mines students lost to suicide in the past year, and to learn about resources available to those that are struggling.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, support is available 24/7/365:
Colorado Crisis Services call 1-844-493-8255 or text TALK to 38255
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline call 1-800-273-8255
Colorado Crisis Services call 1-844-493-8255 or text TALK to 38255
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline call 1-800-273-8255