• Memphis STEPS 2 - Suicide Prevention Grant (SAMHSA)

Team Members: Dr. Theresa Okwumabua, Beth Larsens, Naomi Blake, Kiana Hall, Brandy Hunter and Dr. Pamela Cogdal.

Goals of the Memphis STEPS Program:

Memphis STEPS is funded through a three year SAMHSA grant awarded to Drs. Pam Cogdal (Counseling/CEPR) and Theresa Okwumabua (Psychology Department). The team has presented nationally and regionally at conferences for the Tennessee Counseling Association, the American Psychological Association and the Tennessee Psychological Association.

In addition the team collaborates with campus groups such as the Center for Counseling Learning and Testing and the Psychological Services Clinic to provide educational and training services to the campus and Memphis community.

Specifically the team works to:

Inform students, faculty, staff, and the university community about suicide, as well as mental and behavioral health problems associated with suicide.

• Draw awareness to the prevention and intervention resources and services available within the university community.
• Develop and implement training in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of individuals suffering with behavioral or mental health problems.
• Promote health seeking behaviors by removing the stigmas associated with mental/behavioral problems, and seeking help for them.
• The team has connected with roughly one thousand  students, staff and faculty in the past two years of service. Recently they presented to 150 persons in Nashville and sponsored a two day certified suicide prevention training program in Memphis.

You Too Can Get Involved:

To find out how you can get involved with the Memphis STEPS program to promote information on suicide, suicide prevention, and other information on mental awareness, please contact:

Pam Cogdal at pcogdal@memphis.edu,
Theresa Okwumabua at tokwumab@memphis.edu
Naomi Blake at nblake@memphis.edu

Visit our website at http://www.memphis.edu/psychology/steps/