JED’s Comprehensive Approach to Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention for Colleges and Universities

Developed by the JED Foundation, this guide outlines seven strategic domains that should be considered in any community-wide initiative aimed at promoting mental well-being and reducing substance misuse and suicide. Within each domain, there are numerous actionable steps and interventions that institutions can adopt to enhance student mental health. These seven domains are:

• Strengthen life competencies
• Foster meaningful social connections
• Recognize individuals at risk
• Encourage proactive help-seeking behaviours
• Offer support for mental health and substance use challenges
• Implement crisis response protocols
• Limit access to potentially harmful means

A fundamental aspect of this model is that the implementation process should be guided by a strategic planning perspective. Each campus must assess its unique structures, challenges, needs, and available resources, making intentional decisions about prioritizing and selecting the most effective approaches.

Download the guide here (PDF)