Originally, Blue Envelope was a training program for Corewell Health employees focused on how to talk to individuals about suicide. Over the years, the program expanded to K-12 schools across Michigan. As of June 2024, it’s reached more than 95,000 students and trained more than 15,000 staff in 230 schools.
“And then they shifted it to higher ed.”
Joe Bishop is executive director of campus life at Davenport University, the first institution to partner with Corewell for the program. He says feedback from university staff has been very positive.
“Feeling better equipped and better prepared to have these really tough and difficult conversations regarding suicidal ideations and mental health and making sure that our students are feeling heard and that there’s a clear response on what to do when these topics are brought up.”
Faculty and staff began training in early September. The program utilizes nationally recognized, evidence-based tools that give staff clear instructions on how to respond to students who express thoughts of suicide.
“So, who to tap into, what to say to the student, making sure they feel safe, they feel heard, and then making sure that there’s some really clear guidelines to shift them to the next appropriate resource, which is likely going to be our counseling services and/or our public safety.”
If you or someone you know needs immediate help, call or text the suicide hotline at 988.
