Outreach, Training & Let's Talk

Outreach, Training, Let’s Talk, Mental Health Ally

Here you will find resources provided by the Counseling Center to aid in mental health awareness and suicide prevention training.

Training & Workshops

Question Persuade Refer (QPR) - 1.5 hours

QPR is a nationally recognized suicide prevention gatekeeper training. This training is for the UNI campus community and helps all participants become knowledgeable in helping prevent a potential suicide.

In this 90-minute training you will learn:

How to recognize the warning signs of suicide
How to ask if someone is feeling or thinking about suicide
How to encourage them to get help
How to refer that person to the right support and care

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VAR Training - 1 hour

A training created by Active Minds that provides steps that everyone can take in helping other people deal with everyday struggles. Learn how to listen and respond to others in a helpful way. This training is similar to the QPR training, however it is more broadly applicable.

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Mental Health Ally Training - two-part, training 3.5 hours

Mental Health Ally training will allow you to create a culture of care and help-seeking behaviors related to mental health.

Part 1 of the training will teach you:

Mental health basics
Warning signs
Causes of mental health
Cultural differences
Myths and facts
Effects on students
90 minutes

Part 2 of the training will focus on:

Addressing mental health stigma
Creating a culture of care
Increasing help-seeking behavior
How to start talking about mental health
How to be a mental health Ally
120 minutes

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Men and Mental Health - 1.5 hours

This workshop explores cultural barriers for males regarding seeking help related to their mental health concerns. This discussion based workshop focuses on solutions to increase help seeking behavior in men and developing a more accepting culture.

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Test Anxiety - 1 hour (by request only - prefer groups of 5+)

Test anxiety effects about 1 in 4 students on average. Being able to recognize and address text anxiety is vital in achieving your academic goals. This workshop aims at helping students learn:

To identify the signs of test anxiety
Understand the underlying causes
To develop specific tools for preparing for tests
Gain knowledge and skills to address the symptoms of test anxiety
To regain confidence in test taking

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Resilience - 1 hour (by request only - prefer groups of 5+)

We face many adversities as we work towards earning an education and balancing life’s challenges on a daily basis. Being resilient enables us to recover from these times and maintain our course without interruption. This workshop focuses on learning:

The role resilience plays in dealing with and recovering from adversity
Basic steps towards building resilience
How to develop self-control
How to rebuild confidence in managing life's challenges
How to recover for a significant life event

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The Art of Mindfulness - 1 hour

This introductory workshop explores the concept of mindfulness, including what mindfulness is, how it can be beneficial, and how to practice living more mindfully.

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Time Management - 1 hour (by request only - prefer groups of 5+)

Time is a precious commodity while in college and it only makes sense to learn to use what you do have to the fullest. This workshop explores common time mismanagement and presents key skills and specific tools to take charge of your time and make the most of it.

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Upcoming Trainings & Events

The days that have purple circles represent days with at least one scheduled training. If you click on one of those days, it will bring up the specific details about the trainings. If you would like to register for the training, then click the training description box and you will be directed to an additional page that has a 'register' button.

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Let's Talk

What is "Let's Talk"?

A confidential space for support and problem solving with a trained graduate student. The service is free for all UNI students. The service is on a first-come, first-serve walk-in basis. Please note this is not intended to be a crisis service. If you or someone you know is in crisis, please go to the Counseling Center or call 319-273-2676 for crisis support.

What happens during a visit?

The graduate student will listen closely to your concerns and provide support, perspective, and suggestions for resources. The visits are usually between 15-20 minutes in length. You will also be asked to provide your student ID # for purposes of tracking campus use of this resource; however, you will not be asked to provide any other information that you are not comfortable sharing.

Who should visit Let's Talk?

This service is open to all UNI undergraduate and graduate students. "Let's Talk" is the best fit for the following people:

Students who are not sure about counseling and wonder what it's like to talk with a counselor
Students who are not interested in ongoing counseling but would like the perspective of someone else
Students who have a specific problem and would like someone with whom to talk it through
Students who have a concern about a friend and want some thoughts about what to do

How do I get started?

To participate in Let's Talk services, go to the appropriate location during the specific times as seen on the schedule below.