Universities nationwide responded to the April 16 shootings and began to research how to improve their own security systems.
With the shootings as a reference and Tech's response to the aftermath as a guide, Youngstown State University in Ohio - home to more than 13,000 students - has created a program called the Mental Health Training, Response and Awareness on Campus program.
Funded by a two-year grant from the Margaret Clark Morgan Foundation, the program stresses awareness and education concerning mental health concerns and threats on campus.
Toni Notaro, adjunct faculty member at YSU and administrative director of the Mahoning County Health Board, has been instrumental in the founding of M-TRAC. As a licensed clinical counselor, she has a 15-year history with the Mahoning County Mental Health Board.
"The Margaret Clark Foundation gave us a grant to set up a program to address the mental health needs of YSU students. We partnered with YSU to set up an educational program to train faculty and staff, and all of those who may have direct contact with students on a day-to-day basis," Notaro said. "We want them to be able to realize the signs and symptoms of mental health issues or realize the symptoms of those that are struggling so that they can know how and where to access help for them."
The program tries to break down the statues that govern the sharing of information so that people understand that there is a way to either gain or disseminate information about a student or other individual who may be at risk. FERPA and HIPAA are two of the most well known information sharing blocks at the university level.
"With April 16, people felt like they couldn't say anything about the problems that the shooter had, when in fact they should have tried to reach out and get him help," Notaro said.
Lt. Michael Cretella of the YSU police department was instrumental and worked closely with Notaro in getting M-TRAC started.
"Lately, this has been an issue that no one wants to talk about, and we need to educate people about that. Even I need to be educated about that, as a law enforcement officer and a citizen," Cretella said. "We thought that if we could put a program together where we could provide all campus officials with some of these clues, maybe we could get those students the help that they need."
"We want to keep people from not intervening. People are embarrassed by the issue, quite frankly, and the mantra that we're trying to get out is that every day people deal with mental health issues," Notaro said. "If people were more accepting, they could help, and hopefully we will help eliminate some of these tragedies."
The grant received by M-TRAC is part of a larger program in the state of Ohio, which provides grants across northeast Ohio for educational programs. The university received a $50,000 grant to help with mental health needs.
"Without that grant, we wouldn't be able to get the resources necessary to help with the program getting off the ground," Notaro said. "We've brought in speakers, and everyone has been very instrumental and supportive. We've also been trying to encourage other universities in the area to develop things like this."
Cyndy Anderson, the vice president of student affairs at YSU is also a member of the university's mental health board on which Notaro serves.
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