RIT offers mental health first aid training for students, faculty, and staff
A new training program for RIT students, faculty, and staff aims to bolster a campus-wide approach to supporting student mental health.
The goals of the training program are to build confidence in identifying when someone may be struggling with a mental health concern, to lean in to provide support in these moments, and to connect students with resources when needed.
Nearly 300 people have completed the Mental Health First Aid Training course last semester and have received certification from the National Council of Mental Wellbeing. The certification lasts for three years.
“I learned that mental health is very much like a web, it’s very much interconnected. One thing can greatly affect another,” said Mya Soto, a third-year biochemistry major from Seneca Falls, N.Y. She decided to take the eight-hour course one Saturday in September to help her in her role as a Student Wellness ambassador.
“My student job has a lot to do with well-being. This has been on my radar for a long time and I was very interested in taking this course,” Soto said. “I like being able to be that person that cares. Mental health challenges are on the rise, and it’s a very good skill to learn how this can manifest and metathesize to greater things, and how best to approach someone in a responsible manner who is having a mental health challenge.”
Soto says she has close friends and others she knows who have gone through mental health challenges. Her training, she says, will allow her to approach people in a well-thought-out manner that won’t stigmatize them.
“There has always been a stigma about mental health. But mental health is on a broad spectrum,” Soto said. “Some people have great mental health and can be diagnosed with a disorder, or have poor mental health and not be diagnosed with a disorder, and everything in between.”
More than a dozen instructors, all RIT faculty or staff members, have volunteered to become certified instructors for the program. They come from nearly every college of RIT, including the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, who are able to teach the course in sign language.
The sessions, which are free, consist of workshops and lectures, followed by small group discussions or discussions with all participants. Participants are trained to be alert for signs someone may be struggling, which may include a change in eating or sleeping habits, being irritable, having a drastically different appearance, or anything that is different from the individual’s normal baseline. Participants should come away with better confidence to approach those who may be struggling with a mental health issue and offer resource options, rather than acting as a counselor themselves.
Upcoming training sessions are scheduled in February and March, and more can be held if requested for groups. Sessions can be held for eight hours on a weekend, or broken up in two or more days, as long as the training is completed within two weeks of the start.
The program has already helped.
Elayne Fife-Collier, who completed the training last summer, noticed a student in her American Sign Language and Interpreting Education class who didn’t seem cheerful. At the end of the class, she asked if the student was OK, and they nodded.
“It wasn’t the right kind of nod, so I asked again,” Fife-Collier said. “But this time, I added that I’m available if they want to talk.”
Two days later, the student came into her office and said they were anxious, frightened, and heartbroken after learning their mother was diagnosed with a chronic illness. They were having a hard time focusing on schoolwork and going to classes.
“I offered to refer them to a counselor and I’ll keep an eye on them,” she said.
The student did visit a counselor and continued talking with Fife-Collier regularly. She said her student was grateful she was able to assist at a time when they needed it the most. “All I have to do is listen and support them,” she said. Her time with the student helped, and the student successfully completed the semester, with better feelings.
Beau Gibbs, a health promotion specialist in Student Affairs, is one of three coordinators for the program, along with Sara Engel, RIT’s Health Promotion coordinator, and Kristina Colleluori, associate director of Campus Engagement at Counseling and Psychological Services.
The program, made possible with a grant from the Patrick Lee Foundation, aims to have 42 trainings for 1,200 people this academic year.
“Our Counseling and Psychological Services saw a need to give everyone tools in their toolbox to sit with students or fellow colleagues when they are in discomfort or struggling, to point them in directions to receive some help,” Gibbs said. “You clearly do not become a therapist or counselor after one training, but the training will help you be able to take those personal connections and see what the next steps should be.”
Juan Alfaro, third-year biology major from Aulander, N.C., also took the training in September, not only to help him in his role as a Student Wellness ambassador, but to help others whenever the need may arise.
“I’m a firm believer when people are in need and struggling, I try to help them,” Alfaro said. “If people come talk to you, you shouldn’t be questioning how to help them. It’s an ongoing problem. It really broadens your horizons and opens your mind. Mental health is not one particular thing. People can be in different places in different times.”
He said the first step is being able to recognize signs a person may need help, such as if they are withdrawn or not acting like themselves or not completing their obligations. Then, he may be able to recommend some resources to help.
“I want to be able to understand what they are feeling, and I wanted to equip myself with the tools to point them in the right direction,” he said.
Alfaro hasn’t had the opportunity to use his training yet, but said “it’s always sitting in the back of my mind when I’m having conversations with other students.”
Another important feature of the training is that it also helps those who take the training take better care of themselves. Alfaro said he has learned to take more time to self-reflect, think about what he’s currently doing, and if he’s happy. If he needs a break, he’ll go on a drive or listen to music.
“College can be really taxing,” he said. “Take a step back and really take care of yourself. If I’m not taking care of myself, if something were to happen to me, I can’t go out and help somebody else.”
Latest All News
- RIT research examines spread and flow of soil contaminantsUnderstanding how contaminants in porous materials flow and are transported is key in the fields of industry, medicine, and environmental science. RIT Assistant Professor in the School of Physics and Astronomy Shima Parsa and Michael Izaguirre ’24 Ph.D. (imaging science) recently had their research on the topic published and featured on the cover of Soft Matter, a journal by the Royal Society of Chemistry. The team’s paper, “Emergence of preferential flow paths and intermittent dynamics in emulsion transport in porous media,” was inspired by Parsa’s work in the oil industry and aimed to understand how stable droplets of oil can be mobilized in a medium like soil. The research is important in helping predict where emulsions will flow and how fast they may spread when facing an environmental hazard like an oil spill. “The main question we want to understand is how much are these emulsions going to be dispersed,” said Parsa. “Can we predict the zone of dispersion and the spread after an event like rain over an oil spill?” The researchers examined the breakup of larger droplets (since smaller droplets are more stable and don’t want to break up), and how the larger droplets start to deform as they are pushed through porous media. That then creates more dispersion of the smaller, more stable droplets. They observed that there was always a preferential path. The experimental results from this paper are essential for developing large-scale machine learning algorithms to predict dispersion of contamination in terrestrial environments, which are currently under development in Parsa’s lab. “You want to know if your medium has multiple different preferential paths and each direction they will be in, and that gives you more prediction on the spread of the contaminants,” explained Parsa. Parsa added that Izaguirre relentlessly analyzed the data and brought big ideas to research she had been working on for years. The research was funded in part by the American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund. The goal is that the oil industry and environmental agencies can now use this information when trying to clean up and control the spread of contamination.
- Anne Zachmeyer bids farewell to RIT after 37 yearsAnne Zachmeyer, who is retiring in June after recently marking 37 years at the university, began her RIT career downtown in the former School of Applied Industrial Studies, then part of the College of Continuing Education (CCE). She started out as a registration assistant and later became a program assistant for the Master of Science in career and human resources development (CHRD) and instructional technology (IT) programs. “I have many fond memories of being downtown when Midtown, McCurdy’s, and even Sibley’s were still open,” recalled Zachmeyer, who met her husband shortly after starting at RIT when he was attending workshops for General Motors employees in downtown Rochester. “You could find great sales during the holiday season and during the warmer weather I enjoyed sitting with co-workers during lunch, just people watching and enjoying a ‘dirt dog’ from the many street vendors,” she added.Provided A clipping from Zachmeyer’s faculty listing circa 1987, when she supported the Master of Science in career and human resources development program. Zachmeyer worked downtown for a decade before CCE was merged into the College of Applied Science and Technology, now the College of Engineering Technology. The MS in CHRD and IT programs later moved to the fourth floor of Eastman Hall, becoming part of the Department of Food, Hotel and Tourism, now Hospitality and Tourism Management in Saunders College of Business at RIT. She also worked with the MS in Service Leadership and Hospitality Tourism programs while coordinating the Executive Leader program for each of the four MS programs “I wore many hats during this time—from budgeting and scheduling to advising and everything in-between,” said Zachmeyer. “I worked with Executive Leader cohorts in Croatia and the Dominican Republic by getting students enrolled, shipping course materials, coordinating faculty travel and contracts, and even helping with the first commencement in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.” In 2019, the School of Hospitality and Service Leadership became part of Saunders College, where she joined the student services team. As an adjunct faculty member, Zachmeyer also taught career development classes and most recently the school’s popular Beers of the World course. What are you most proud of when looking back at your time at RIT? I have seen many changes over the years. When I started, we were just beginning to use computers and there was no Internet as we know it today. We had to learn it all and keep up with each new advancement. I think one of the things I am most proud of is learning all this and keeping up with the changes as they came along. I am also proud of the relationships I have developed with students and colleagues over the years. I am very blessed, and I hope I have made an impact on a few lives during my time here at RIT. What are some of your fondest memories? There have been so many wonderful memories with each phase of my career. Downtown we had so much fun just being in a lively downtown environment. When I arrived in the hospitality department, the memories were with students, faculty, and colleagues–RITz dinners, hotel shows in New York City, and the Fancy Food Show in Chicago. I also have fond memories with the Executive Leader program—golfing events each year and fun picnics at Professor Warren Sackler’s home. And sometimes it was simply being in the office with colleagues and laughing. The hospitality department was a very special place with amazing students and faculty and it was like a second family. I immediately felt a part of the team and right at home when I came to Saunders College. More laughter with colleagues, and all the student events we host each year have made these last few years special. If you can’t have fun at work, it’s really not worth it. In the end, the memories are all about the people I have met along the way. What are your post-RIT plans? By the time I retire, I will hopefully have three grandsons—the third is due at the end of June. I plan on spending lots of time with them and time with friends, maybe teaching, and just enjoying life because tomorrow is never promised.
- Kim Shearer’s passion for planning spans five decades at RITWhen Kim Shearer began working at RIT in 1983, she was asked why she chose the university for her career. “I responded that I was interested in the free tuition for my children,” said Shearer. “When asked how many kids I had, I replied—‘none, but I’m planning on it.’” Shearer’s proclivity and proficiency for planning ahead led to roles in the College of Applied Science and Technology and the inception of RIT’s computing college, where she served as the inaugural director of operations at Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences. Following the plan, Shearer took a couple of years away from RIT to raise her kids. Two of her sons graduated from RIT. And she did too—completing an applied arts and sciences degree (now called the individualized program) in 2012. “I love so many things about RIT—the people, its progressive thinking, and the belief that we can accomplish anything,” said Shearer, who will retire in June. Below are some reflections Shearer shared about her career at RIT. What are some of your best memories from creating a new college at RIT? When our journey began in the beautiful new GCCIS facility in 2003, we had 2,990 students and generated 14,432 credit hours that fall. Comparatively, today we have 4,561 students and generated 34,468 credit hours this past fall. In the beginning, I assisted with furniture selection for all the faculty offices and we’ve now had more than 20 major renovations that have kept our building fresh. I take great pride in making the building look nice and have some warm touches too. For example, the planters in the GCCIS atrium were originally in the Student Alumni Union and were made by Harry Bertoia, a famous Italian artist. Our contractors had their work cut out for them. They had to design a turntable in the base of each planter that was sturdy enough to hold our large trees and allow us to turn the trees to get an equal amount of sunlight from the windows on the east. What are you proud of from your time at RIT?RIT Archives Kim Shearer, bottom right, with members of the 1999-2000 Staff Council executive committee. I was fortunate to be elected as chair of RIT’s Staff Council. During that time, we were able to expand the role of the Ombuds Office to provide service to faculty and staff and not just students. We also helped create an incremental customer service position to assist end users with implementation of the new Oracle system. I was so fortunate to receive the prestigious RIT Staff Recognition Award based on that work. I was also really proud to revamp and develop new unconscious bias training for the university’s faculty search committees. At first, I just volunteered to do it for GCCIS, but people liked it so much that they asked me to train other colleges. I felt really passionate about that because I grew up in a town with little diversity. When I got to RIT I recognized the value of that and wanted to share that with others. We later received the Changing Hearts and Minds Award for our work in diversifying the faculty in GCCIS. Are there any special features at RIT that people should pay attention to? I am very proud to have served as co-project manager on the design and build of the ESL Global Cybersecurity Institute wing of GCCIS. That building has some unique stories to tell. The overhead lights on the bridges connecting the new wing to the main GCCIS facility are binary codes: “R” is on the first floor, “I” is on the second, and “T” is on the third. Also, there is an embedded message in the three-story orange backlit binary wall to the right of the main entrance. Take some time to try and decipher it. We came up with the message just to add some fun to a building that will be here for a long time.
- RIT student-faculty developed video game ‘That Damn Goat’ now available for purchase on Nintendo Switch consoleA video game created by Rochester Institute of Technology students and faculty has reached a long-awaited milestone. That Damn Goat, developed and published through RIT’s MAGIC Spell Studios, is now available for purchase on the popular Nintendo Switch gaming console. More than 60 RIT students and faculty from across the university’s nine colleges developed the game over three years.RIT ‘That Damn Goat,’ a video game developed by RIT students and faculty, is now available on the Nintendo Switch gaming console. Aaron Nieboer, a production associate for RIT’s MAGIC Spell Studios, explained that “this game was meant to give students an opportunity to work on something that was going to be released into the marketplace. So, the fact that we’re able to have our game available on the Nintendo Switch platform gets us all excited and validates the work that we’ve done.” Mike Santos, a second-year student in RIT’s game design and development master’s degree program, is the game’s console port engineer and is thrilled to have a published game on his résumé. “Being able to have a game published on the Nintendo Switch allows me to show that I can apply my skills in various ways,” said Santos, who is from Rome, N.Y. “This looks great to companies in the game industry and will ultimately help me achieve my dream of becoming a senior-level development lead on a high-profile AAA game.” That Damn Goat gets its name from the non-playable goat character, a conniving animal with the power to randomly change scenarios by switching environments and player-selected characters, teleporting itself or players to other locations within the game, and more. The game development team also celebrated the release of That Damn Goat on the Steam platform in December 2023. “Throughout my time at RIT, I have not only learned how to code, but I have also developed the problem-solving capabilities necessary to tackle challenging situations and develop games for multiple platforms,” added Santos. “I’ve been able to explore the path of optimization and learn different techniques that are required to excel at it. This has expanded my job options and has shown me that getting a job in an optimization or game-porting position is something I would really enjoy.”
- RIT and Synapse VP launch immersive LA program training the next generation in cutting-edge virtual production techniquesRochester Institute of Technology is offering a groundbreaking partnership with Synapse Virtual Production (Synapse VP) to deliver an exclusive in-person Virtual Production (VP) immersion course in Los Angeles through RIT Certified. Scheduled over 10 days (June 10-14 and June 17-21), the RIT Certified Mastery Certificate in Virtual Production course will be hosted at Synapse VP's Flagship Volume at LA Center Studios. It welcomes experienced industry professionals seeking to upskill and future-proof their careers and is also a good fit for recent graduates in early-career film, animation, and production positions. RIT Certified Mastery Certificate Highlights:Hollywood Immersion: Direct access to the industry at Synapse VP's soundstage at LA’s Center Studios. Hands-on Learning: Creative workflows and roles in VP, Master virtual art production and previsualization, plus VP stage engineering and operation. Expert Mentorship: Gain insights from RIT’s MAGIC Center faculty and Synapse VP leaders. Career Advancement: Earn the RIT certification, opening doors to in-demand VP roles. RIT boasts a unique position in virtual production, rooted in its legacy as home to the first motion picture science (MPS), imaging science, and color science programs in the U.S., coupled with extensive industry connections and a vast alumni network. These strengths are amplified by RIT Certified, the university’s professional training and workforce development division, and RIT’s world-class MAGIC Center, a hub for virtual production research and development since 2020. This groundbreaking program fosters collaboration between technical and creative minds, driving innovation as creative engineers, filmmakers, and artists learn side-by-side, replicating the real-world dynamics of successful productions. “This isn’t just a workshop for creatives needing technical skills or engineers needing creative exposure. It’s about the synergy between technical brilliance and creative storytelling,” explains David Long, RIT MAGIC Center director. “By mastering the latest techniques, workshop graduates position themselves for long-term success in this rapidly evolving industry. They'll walk away with the adaptability and problem-solving mindset needed to thrive," adds Dennis Di Lorenzo, executive director of RIT Certified. Synapse VP, renowned for its extensive expertise in the VP domain, will provide an unparalleled learning environment for participants in its state-of-the-art virtual reality production studios. “Virtual production is the future of filmmaking, and addressing the talent gap is essential," said Aaron Gordon, COO of Synapse VP and a proud RIT film and animation alumnus. “As a partner in a company whose mission is to set a sustainable gold standard for the VP space, it's an honor to give back and collaborate with my alma mater. Participants will leave with the skills and knowledge to step directly onto a virtual production crew, making them a valuable asset to any production team." Gordon noted that a number of experts from Synapse VP will speak during the immersion, including VP Cinematographer Christopher Probst, ASC who is CIO and author of Cine Lens Manual, Emily Haldeman ’19 (film and animation), and Rich Lee, CCO and veteran director, Previz/VFX supervisor, and artist. RIT’s David Long will co-teach the course along with Flip Phillips and Mark Reisch in the College of Art and Design’s School of Film and Animation. “RIT is known for training filmmakers and storytellers to embrace technology in a way that they can achieve great creative outcomes. This incredible partnership with Synapse continues that tradition as we expand our educational and research programs in LA,” commented RIT’s assistant provost Tom Connor, a former Disney executive hired to lead RIT’s LA programs.
- Ceramics and Illustration graduate Emma Herz Thakur travels to France as a Fulbright awardeeEmma Herz Thakur ’24 (ceramics and illustration) feels fortunate that at RIT she met people who have won major grants, had their work featured in museums, and are connected with scholars from around the world. Now, she is one of them. Meet the other 2024 Fulbright U.S. Student awardees Joseph Casale will analyze aerial hyperspectral imagery to map the species of trees in Malaysia. Peyton D’Anthony will teach English in Kosovo. Mikkael Lamoca will research age-related neurodegeneration in Singapore. Izzy Moyer will work with The State Archives in Dubrovnik, Croatia. Sarah Sabal will pursue a graduate education in Taiwan. Herz Thakur will travel to France to complete a Fulbright scholarship. She is one of a record six Fulbright U.S. Student awardees this year from RIT. Herz Thakur, from Millerton, N.Y., will split her time between Paris and Neuilly-en-Sancerre to complete her work, which has an overarching goal of creating connections between practicing artisans and museum collections. She explains that forming these connections can bring new life to museum collections and open doors for culturally responsive conversations regarding museum collecting, colonization, and the repatriation of artifacts. Specifically, she will study collections sourced from former French colonies at the National Museum of Natural History to build a new body of ceramic work inspired by the collections and traditional French craftsmanship. “This area of study is incredibly important. For me personally, my experience in a bi-cultural marriage with someone who is from a formerly colonized country gives me a unique perspective on the nuances around repatriation and cultural exchange,” said Herz Thakur. “Looking at how creatives can enhance and complement natural sciences and history collections can expand our minds in terms of what community interaction with these collections can look like.” Herz Thakur is grateful or the support she received from her mentors at RIT, including Associate Professor Rebecca Scales, Professor Juilee Decker, Ann Mowris Mulligan Endowed Professor Jane Shellenbarger, and Assistant Professor Peter Pincus. As she anticipates traveling to France, Herz Thakur is hopeful as she faces the world of possibilities that being a Fulbright Scholar will bring to her life. “I don’t know where this is all going to lead me. That’s the other thing about the Fulbright that's so daunting: the different avenues and the networking available to me is so broad. While I'm focused on this project, other doors might open for me that I don't know about yet,” said Herz. “All of these potential opportunities are both terrifying and exciting.”