Mental Health Trainings
The University of New Haven offers three trainings to the campus community to better help us understand and respond to mental health situations, crises, and challenges appropriately. Two trainings are evidence-based and recommended by SAMHSA, and one is tailored to the University community.
If you are interested in participating in any of our trainings, please sign up here, and read below to help you decide which training best fits your needs.
Evidence-Based Trainings
Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR)
Time commitment: 2 - 2.5 hours
Certification training: Yes
https://qprinstitute.com/
Become trained as a gatekeeper (someone in a position to recognize a crisis and the warning signs that someone may be contemplating suicide) and learn to: Recognize the warning signs of suicide, know how to offer hope, and know how to get help and save a life.
(2 hours)
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Feb. 16 - 2 p.m.
Instructors: Ophelie Rowe-Allen & Erica Hutchinson -
Feb. 20 - 2:30 p.m.
Instructors: Sam Kent & Diane Polo -
March 14 - 10 a.m.
Instructors: Sam Kent & Diane Polo -
March 20 - 4:30 p.m.
Instructors: Ophelie Rowe-Allen & Erica Hutchinson -
March 25 - 10 a.m.
Instructors: Ophelie Rowe-Allen & Erica Hutchinson -
April 8 - 1 p.m.
Instructors: Sam Kent & Diane Polo
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QPR Instructor Profiles
Erica Hutchinson (She/Her/Hers)
Accessibility Services Coordinator
Erica works at the Accessibility Resources Center (ARC) here at the University of New Haven. In addition to her role on campus, Erica is a certified QPR trainer/instructor who is dedicated to teaching others about the warning signs and common causes of suicidal behaviors. After taking this training herself, it provided her with the ability to recognize when and how to effectively ask difficult but important questions to someone who was in crisis. She believes we can empower all people, regardless of their background, to make a positive difference in the life of someone else.
Sam Kent, M.A., LPC (She/They)
Clinician II - CAPS
Sam Kent (she/they) is a board-certified (NCC) licensed clinician (LPC) at Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). In addition to their clinical role on campus, Sam is also a Certified QPR Gatekeeper Instructor, which allows her to train individuals on how to ask the most important question to save someone’s life. Having lost a friend to suicide, Sam is passionate about ensuring those who are struggling know that there is hope, and they are cared for.
Ophelie Rowe-Allen, Ed.D. (She/Her/Hers)
Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Students
Dr. Rowe Allen is the Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Students. She is a certified QPR trainer/instructor who is now part of a movement to train others in suicide prevention and intervention. Her focus is to help the Charger community to be proactive in improving, maintaining, and nurturing their mental well-being to live purposeful and driven lives. As such, she would like to empower individuals within the university campus to be part of the movement to learn how to recognize and respond to suicidal crises appropriately and effectively.
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)
Time commitment: 8 hours on day-of, with an additional 2 hours of pre-work
Certification training: Yes
https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/
Mental Health First Aid is a skills-based training course that teaches participants about mental health and substance use issues.
(8 hours)
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Feb. 23 - 8:30 a.m.
Instructor: Curtis Clark -
March 27 - 8:30 a.m.
Instructor: Curtis Clark -
April 24 - 8:30 a.m.
Instructor: Curtis Clark
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MHFA Instructor Profiles
Curtis J. Clark, Ed.D. (He/Him/His)
Director of Campus Life & Student Support
Dr. Curtis J. Clark is the Director of Campus Life & Student Support and serves as the Chief Housing Officer for the University of New Haven. He has worked at various institutions in the Midwest and New England and has focused his career on supporting students navigate their college experience. He has been a nationally certified Mental Health First Aid instructor since September 2023 and is passionate about helping the Charger community learn valuable skills to assess for risk of suicide or harm and assist by listening non-judgmentally, giving reassurance and information, and encouraging self-help or seeking appropriate professional help. Together lets #BeTheDifference
University-Specific Training
Recognize & Respond to Students in Distress
Time Commitment: 1.5 - 2 hours
A member of CAPS will present to your team, office or group a university-specific protocol for better understanding how to recognize when students are in distress and how to best support them. This includes practice of how to engage with students as well as resources to connect students, in addition to aiding staff and faculty in feeling confident when students are in crisis.
Please email Paige Bartels, CAPS Director, to request a training session for your group.