Substance use, suicide, and gambling are increasing concerns on college campuses. 

In the 2020-2021 school year, almost two-thirds of college students met the criteria for at least one mental health condition. In addition, problem gambling among young people was on the rise with prevalence estimates ranging from 35 to 87 percent.

Unfortunately, several barriers prevent college students from getting help for these concerns. They include stigma, limited staffing, long wait times at college counseling centers, inability to fit appointments into class schedules, and difficulty relating to counselors.   

NORC is training student navigators to implement a public health model.  

After receiving a five-year grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in 2023, the University at Albany (NY) tasked us with helping  implement  the nationally recognized, effective Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) model to address on-campus substance use, suicide risk, and problem gambling.

The university is using student navigators to conduct SBIRT screenings in central campus locations to reach more students and address multiple public health challenges. We are the lead trainers of these navigators, using NORC's Gambling and Suicide Care training curriculum to teach them and subsequently evaluate the training’s impact on knowledge, self-efficacy, skills, and behavior.