When the Green Bandana Project came to Pittsburg State University, it became more than just another mental health program. It turned into a way for students and staff to connect, start conversations, and remind each other that nobody has to deal with tough times alone.
Jesse Briscoe, one of the faculty leads for the project and assistant director of First Year Programs, first learned about it while working at Missouri Southern. There, he met student athlete Riley Laver, who was promoting the project through events and outreach. Her passion for mental health stuck with him.
“I fell in love with this initiative,” Briscoe said. “In all my years working in housing, mental health has always been a concern. I’ve responded to suicide attempts and students considering suicide, so this is something very personal and important to me.”
After returning to Pitt State, Briscoe worked with former area coordinator Lukas Metropoulos and other staff members to bring the project to campus. They launched it in the spring and started offering training sessions for students, faculty, and staff. Since then, 31 students and 31 faculty and staff members have completed both the Green Bandana orientation and Question, Persuade, Refer suicide prevention training.
The program’s goal is to help people learn how to start tough conversations and connect others with professional help.
“This training isn’t about becoming a therapist,” Briscoe said. “It’s about learning how to ask questions, listen, and guide someone toward the help they need.”
Freshman, Jay-Lynn Bingham said she decided to take part because of a personal experience.
“When I was younger, my aunt died by suicide,” she said. “That made me realize how important it is to talk about mental health and support people who are struggling.”
Bingham first heard about the Green Bandana Project on Instagram and was drawn to its message.
“The part that stood out most was when the instructor talked about people-first language,” Bingham said. “It reminded me that how we say something can matter just as much as what we say.”
The training lasts about two hours and includes both the Green Bandana orientation and QPR intervention training. Participants learn to recognize warning signs, talk openly, and connect people to help.
“I feel more confident now in supporting someone who might be struggling,” Bingham said. “Everyone faces their own challenges, but nobody has to go through them alone.”
Briscoe said the project’s main goal is to make talking about mental health normal and to remind students that it’s OK to ask for help.
“It can be scary to ask someone if they’re thinking about suicide,” Briscoe said. “But if we can teach people how to ask and listen, we can save lives.”
The Green Bandana Project continues to grow at Pitt State, with more training sessions planned this year. Briscoe hopes that when people see green bandanas around campus, they recognize them as a sign of care and support.
“When you see someone with that green bandana, it means they’re someone you can talk to,” Briscoe said. “It’s about creating a campus community where everyone looks out for each other.”