Green bandanas have slowly started appearing across Pittsburg State University’s campus. While the number is still growing, student leaders and administrators say each bandana represents something bigger than a piece of fabric. It represents a trained peer who is willing to listen. Since launching in April 2025, 127 faculty, staff, and students have completed QPR suicide prevention training, according to Jesse Briscoe, Assistant Director of Student Life. Of those 127 individuals, 70 have also completed the Green Bandana Project orientation and now wear a green bandana to signal that they are prepared to recognize warning signs and connect others to appropriate resources.
Briscoe explained that the difference in numbers reflects additional QPR sessions held for specific campus groups, including resident assistants and the academic advising team, who requested the training separately. While not all of those participants completed the Green Bandana orientation, Briscoe views the overall participation as a positive sign. “For me, that just shows there’s interest,” Briscoe said. “People recognize this is an issue, and they’re trying to do something about it.”
Currently operating under the umbrella of the Student Government Association, the Green Bandana Project is entering what Briscoe described as a transitional phase. After connecting with SAVE, the national organization that oversees the initiative, campus leaders learned the program is designed to go beyond training sessions and build an active mental health community. “We’re kind of at a pivotal time right now,” Briscoe said. “How do we give a warm handoff and pass the baton so that faculty and staff are not necessarily driving this moving forward, but we’re creating opportunities for our student leaders?” That shift toward student leadership is something Sid Ruckman, a student leader involved in the project, hopes to see expand.
“I would hope to see more students taking the initiative of helping with events, proposing ideas for what TGBP could do on campus, and spreading the word to friends, other clubs, and in classes,” said Ruckman, a student leader majoring in graphic communications. Although 70 individuals currently wear green bandanas, Ruckman acknowledged that visibility across campus is still limited. “It means a lot to me whenever I see someone on campus with a green bandana,” Ruckman said. “It makes me happy knowing that other people value mental health and suicide prevention. I think it’s a small group so far, so it’s not as visible.” Awareness remains a challenge. While students who complete the training understand the purpose of QPR and the Green Bandana Project, Ruckman believes many students are unfamiliar with what the initiative actually involves.
“I don’t think the average student on campus knows what QPR or TGBP is,” Ruckman said.
To address that gap, Ruckman hopes to see more interactive outreach, including tabling events, gatherings for members, and educational programs that make conversations about mental health more approachable. “I think that peer support would help make that bridge to the professional,” Ruckman said. “It’s a lot easier to talk to a friend or someone you’ve spent time with in a class than a professional you’ve never met before.” Briscoe echoed that sentiment, noting that students often confide in friends long before seeking formal support. “The reality is the student is going to tell their trusted friend and loved one before they actually go to the health center,” Briscoe said. “We all need to be equipped.”
As the Green Bandana Project approaches its one-year mark, leaders say continued growth will depend on student involvement and visibility. For those wearing green bandanas, the goal is simple: Create a campus culture where conversations about mental health are normal; stigma is reduced, and no student feels alone.