Latrobe, PA—The National Fraternity of Kappa Delta Rho is excited to announce a new initiative—Brothers’ Keeper. It is a program of ongoing support for their Brotherhood that includes educational, leadership, character development programs, and mental health resources to support their undergraduate membership.
Just as CPR training helps a person with no clinical training assist an individual following a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid training helps a person assist someone experiencing a mental health crisis such as contemplating suicide. In both situations, the goal is to help support an individual until appropriate professional help arrives.
Mental Health First Aiders learn a single 5-step strategy that includes assessing risk, respectfully listening to and supporting the individual in crisis, and identifying appropriate professional help and other supports. Participants are also introduced to risk factors and warning signs for mental health or substance use problems, engage in experiential activities that build understanding of the impact of illness on individuals and families, and learn about evidence-supported treatment and self-help strategies. An important component of the Mental Health First Aid course is the opportunity to practice the intervention strategy rather than to just learn about it. This simple experience can make it easier to apply the knowledge in a real-life situation.
The goal is to have the entire national staff trained as Mental Health First Aid Trainers by the start of the 19-20 academic so that every chapter can then be trained in Mental Health First Aid.
Executive Director Rosenberg stated, “This will allow our staff to provide training to our undergraduates on how to apply the 5-step action plan in a variety of situations such as helping someone through a panic attack, engaging with someone who may be suicidal, or assisting an individual who has overdosed.”
Kappa Delta Rho is an American college social fraternity spread throughout the United States. The fraternity places emphasis on Fellowship, Leadership, Scholarship, Service, and Tradition. Kappa Delta Rho’s open motto is “Honor Super Omnia”, or “Honor Above All Things”. More information about Kappa Delta Rho can be found online at https://www.kdr.com.
