Project OCEAN (On Campus Emergency Assistance Network) at California State University, Long Beach was initiated in September, 2008. The overall goal of Project OCEAN is to prevent suicide by promoting a campus climate that reduces the stigma of mental health issues and encourages help seeking behaviors when needed. The Project initially targets high risk students which include students with psychological disabilities, first generation, low income students, veterans, and graduate students from the Schools of Natural Sciences and Engineering. The activities of Project OCEAN are designed to strengthen and fill gaps in existing services to “expand the safety net” for students vulnerable to suicidal ideation.
Project OCEAN promotes access to these services by training a cadre of faculty, staff, and students in appropriate referral strategies using the QPR Training model. QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer -- 3 simple steps that anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich maneuver help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. This training is expected to expedite referrals to helping services, while at the same time creating the expectation that help-seeking behavior is condoned and encouraged when it is needed.
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