Supporting students before, during, and after mental health crisis
In response to ongoing concerns about student mental health and suicide risk, the Health & Wellness department within Student Affairs has spearheaded the establishment of a Suicide Prevention Task Force, bringing together faculty, staff and clinical leaders from across campus to strengthen how the university supports students. The effort reflects a growing understanding that student distress is not temporary or isolated, but part of a broader, sustained pattern that continues to get in the way of students’ well-being and success.
Grounded in data
Recent data from the 2025 National College Health Assessment (NCHA) highlights the scope of the issue faced at the U. About 25.7% of students screened positive for suicide risk, while 9.7% reported intentional self-injury within the past year. Findings from the Healthy Minds Study (HMS) reinforce these trends, with 13% of students reporting seriously considering suicide, 6–7% reporting a suicide plan, 1% reporting a suicide attempt and 27% reporting engaging in non-suicidal self-injury.
Nationally, suicide remains one of the leading causes of death among college-aged young adults, and in Utah, rates among youth and young adults are consistently higher than the national average, which only adds to the urgency for local prevention efforts.
Leadership and structure
The task force is co-chaired by Dr. Scott McAward, executive director of the University Counseling Center, and Dr. Brittany Badger, director of the Center for Campus Wellness. It is supported by senior leadership from Dr. Sherrá Watkins, associate vice president for Student Health and Wellness, and Dr. Philip Osteen, chief behavioral health officer for Academic Affairs.
"Campuswide data continues to point us in the same direction—we're seeing students carry more, for longer periods of time, and often without clear pathways to support," Badger said. "This work is about making sure those pathways are easier to find, easier to trust and better connected."
Approach and focus areas
The group is tasked with developing a University Suicide Prevention and Postvention Plan that aligns efforts across Student Affairs, Academic Affairs and other campus partners. The work is grounded in a public health approach, focusing not only on responding to crises, but on strengthening the systems, environments and connections that help prevent them.
To guide this work, the task force is organized into three key workgroups:
Prevention:
- Focused on awareness, education, belonging and campus conditions that support well-being.
- Leads efforts on the development of the University Suicide Prevention Plan.
Early intervention:
- Focused on improving how students are identified and connected to support, emphasizing coordination and a "no wrong door" approach.
- Integrates basic needs, financial wellness, faculty/staff protocols, and warm handoffs.
Postvention:
- Focused on how the university responds after a suicide, including communication.
- Offers support for those impacted, along with long-term community care.
Why it matters
In addition to further developing strategy, the task force will identify gaps in current
systems, strengthen referral pathways and establish shared approaches to measuring
progress across campus. University leaders say this work depends on collaboration
across all areas of campus, particularly among those who interact with students on
a daily basis.
"At the end of the day, this is about people noticing, reaching out and knowing what
to do next," Badger said. "The more aligned we are as a campus, the better chance
we have at supporting students before they reach a point of crisis."
The ultimate goal of the task force is to build a more connected and responsive system of care; a system that helps students access support earlier and more consistently throughout their journey at the U.