July 31, 2025 - Stephen F. Austin State University’s Counseling Services is now offering students, faculty and staff a new suicide prevention training program called Caring Jacks to create an environment where open conversations about suicide are met with compassion and support, helping build a community of care and connection.
“The Caring Jacks crisis response and suicide prevention training not only builds on the success of previous efforts but also aligns with The University of Texas System’s broader initiative to reduce suicide among college students across Texas campuses, ensuring that SFA remains at the forefront of mental health and crisis intervention education,” said Clare Fite, director of SFA Counseling Services.
Rooted in evidence-based, up-to-date methodologies, Caring Jacks replaces the Question, Persuade, Refer bystander intervention training Counseling Services used for over a decade.
“Since launching suicide prevention training at SFA, more students are actively engaging with crisis support services through Counseling Services, and we’ve observed positive trends in student safety and well-being,” Fite said. “These outcomes highlight the impact of awareness, education and proactive support. Together, we can reduce the stigma and risk of suicide — because at SFA, we're not just Lumberjacks, we're caring Jacks.”
Through a combination of expert-led presentations, real-life scenarios, role-playing activities and reflective discussion, Caring Jacks participants learn how to recognize the signs and symptoms of a suicide crisis, communicate with empathy and confidence, respond effectively and take informed action, and connect individuals to appropriate campus and community resources.
Two trainings are available. In the 50-minute introductory training, participants learn how to recognize the signs and symptoms of suicide, understand varying levels of crisis, strengthen supportive communication skills, and gain awareness of mental health resources.
For more in-depth training, Counseling Services offers a 90-minute comprehensive training. This extended session offers instruction on motivational interviewing techniques, empathetic communication and mental health first-aid principles.
Participants who complete the full training receive a certificate of completion, recognizing their preparedness to intervene and support others in crisis. To learn more about SFA's mental health resources, visit the Health and Wellness Hub webpage at sfasu.edu/thehub and the Lumberjack Wellness Network at sfasu.edu/lwn.
