Dear Fellow Coog,

We want to acknowledge that we are all sitting in disbelief, anger and sadness after the tragic loss of our students this semester. In this time of grief amid the backdrop of an already stressful period, we are reminded of the importance of community.

All Coogs – students, staff, faculty and leadership – play critical roles in creating a university-wide safety net. It will take all of us working together to prevent suicide, minimize risks and build a community of care.

Together we can secure our buildings, improve social connectedness, identify students at-risk, increase help-seeking behaviors, build upon life skills and increase awareness about available mental health and substance abuse treatments. Let’s destigmatize mental health challenges and foster compassion for each other.

Here are three actions we can take now to strengthen our community:

• Join the JED Campus Initiative
• Complete the QPR suicide prevention training
• Learn how to recognize and support fellow students in need

This week, UH’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is extending the hours of “Let’s Talk,”offering counseling services throughout the campus. These are informal confidential consultations with CAPS therapists. Times, dates and locations are as follows:

March 22

• 9 – 11 a.m. - Student Center, Museum District Room 211
• 2 – 5 p.m. - M.D. Anderson Library, Room 264D of the Brown Wing

March 24

• 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. - M.D. Anderson Library, Room 264D of the Brown Wing or via Zoom 91244361097

As a reminder, these services are also available to you:

• All UH students now have 24/7 FREE access through our student health insurance provider to complete assessment, counseling, individual crisis intervention, support for stress, depression, family and relationship concerns, and substance abuse.
• UH Counseling and Psychological Services offers crisis support by phone 24/7 at 713-743-5454. CAPS is also available to also assist if you are concerned about a fellow student who may be struggling or in crisis.
• Support and care are also available through the Student Health Center and the A.D. Bruce Religion Center.
• If you are having thoughts of suicide or feeling suicidal, please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline immediately at 988. Counselors are also available to chat at http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/.

This is indeed a difficult time for the University of Houston community. Take care of each other and be well. Please keep the departed students’ loved ones in your thoughts. And, if you have any other questions or suggestions for how we can continue to build a community of care at UH, please email coogscare@uh.edu.

Respectfully,

Diane Z. Chase
Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
provost@uh.edu