1. It’s Real: College Students and mental health
Ann M. Caretti, Ph.D.
Michele Disken Greco, MPA
Michele Lee

2. School-Based Programs and Resources
It’s Real: College Students & Mental Health
More Than Sad (teens, parents, educators)
Signs Matter: Early Detection
Model School Policy on Suicide Prevention
After a Suicide: Toolkit for Schools
More Than Sad teaches educators to recognize signs of mental health distress in students and refer them for help. This suicide prevention program complies with the requirements for teacher education training in many states.
MTS Teen Depression This program teaches teens to recognize the signs of depression in themselves and others, challenges the stigma surrounding depression and help seeking, and demystifies the treatment process.
MTS Parent Education This program uses the More than Sad: Teen Depression film to help parents recognize signs of depression and other mental health problems, initiate a conversation with their child, and get him or her help. This presentation is also available in Spanish.
Created in partnership with Legal One and Rutgers, Signs Matters online program shows educators how and when to refer K-12 students to counseling staff or administration. The training fulfills many state requirements for educators to have two hours of instruction on suicide prevention. *No Chapter$
Developed in collaboration with The Trevor Project, the National Association of School Psychologists, and American School Counselor Association, the Model School District Policy helps guide the development and implementation of comprehensive school district policies on suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention in a way that enables the modification of existing policies and protocols.

3. It’s Real: Program Overview

4. It’s Real: Implementation
Program Objectives
Using the Film as an Edu Program
Recommended settings
Expert commentary
Role of the Facilitator / Prep for Showing the Film
Suggested Agenda and Talking Points
Collecting Feedback
afsp.org/ItsRealParticipant
Visit afsp.org/ItsReal to access Facilitator Feedback Form
Ideas for Program Expansion
Last year, It’s Real was introduced at CLC – and everyone was excited to have a new college fil. It's Real is a documentary featuring the stories of six college students from across the country.
The AFSP-produced film It’s Real: College Students and Mental Health is designed to raise awareness about mental health issues commonly experienced by students, and is intended to be used as part of a school’s educational program to encourage help-seeking.
By featuring real stories and experiences, It’s Real conveys that depression and other mental health conditions are real illnesses that can be managed through specific treatments and interventions. It encourages students to be mindful of the state of their mental health, to acknowledge and recognize when they are struggling, and to take steps to seek help.
This 17-minute film is accompanied by facilitator’s tools and resources, including a Facilitator’s Guide containing talking points and additional information, and is intended as a group presentation. The film and facilitator tools may be purchased in either DVD or Digital Download formats.
Designed to be used as an educational tool, this program seeks to:
- Illustrate how mental health conditions such as depression can interfere with a student’s ability to enjoy college and be productive in their work
- Convey that depression and other mental health conditions are real illnesses that can be managed through specific treatments and interventions
- Encourage and promote help-seeking behavior among college students
*Christopher & Arkansas

5. It’s Real – Program Demo

7. It’s Real: Program Expansion
Last year, It’s Real was introduced at CLC – and everyone was excited to have a new college fil. It's Real is a documentary featuring the stories of six college students from across the country.
The AFSP-produced film It’s Real: College Students and Mental Health is designed to raise awareness about mental health issues commonly experienced by students, and is intended to be used as part of a school’s educational program to encourage help-seeking.
By featuring real stories and experiences, It’s Real conveys that depression and other mental health conditions are real illnesses that can be managed through specific treatments and interventions. It encourages students to be mindful of the state of their mental health, to acknowledge and recognize when they are struggling, and to take steps to seek help.
This 17-minute film is accompanied by facilitator’s tools and resources, including a Facilitator’s Guide containing talking points and additional information, and is intended as a group presentation. The film and facilitator tools may be purchased in either DVD or Digital Download formats.
Designed to be used as an educational tool, this program seeks to:
- Illustrate how mental health conditions such as depression can interfere with a student’s ability to enjoy college and be productive in their work
- Convey that depression and other mental health conditions are real illnesses that can be managed through specific treatments and interventions
- Encourage and promote help-seeking behavior among college students
*Christopher & Arkansas