Education & Outreach

Community Education and Outreach
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offers psychoeducational services to the campus community focused on mental health awareness and prevention efforts.
Awareness and Prevention Outreach Events
CAPS provides and participates in regularly scheduled events throughout the year. Before requesting an event, review the list below to see if your group may benefit from engaging in any of these scheduled programs. Dates and registration instructions will be updated as they become available.
Summer Events
- New Student Orientation
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Throughout Summer Months
CAPS and other Student Affairs offices are eager to help you prepare for your first year with Penn State! Find us at the HUB throughout New Student Orientation.
- Campus Leader Mental Health Orientation
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August 2, 2022 | 1 - 2:00 p.m. | Zoom
- Register now!
- Send questions prior to the event
Join a panel of CAPS staff explaining our services, demystifying CAPS resources, and helping you be a supportive presence for other students.
Reviewing CAPS Wellness and Clinical Services is strongly recommended before attending.
Fall Events
- Campus Involvement/Resource Fair
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Late August | In Person
One of the best opportunities to get involved in campus life at Penn State. Come by our table to learn about CAPS services.
- The Red Folder: Helping Students in Distress
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September 8, 2022 | 1 - 2:00 p.m. | Zoom
An open invitation intended for all members of the community, including students, faculty, staff, and caregivers.
A presentation panel of CAPS staff addressing how to recognize and respond to students in distress, as well as referral resources across the campus communities.
Reviewing the Red Folder before attending is strongly recommended.
View a recording of the most recent event.
- Residence Life Carnival
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August 25, 2022 | 2-5:00 p.m. | East Halls
Join us alongside other campus partners at the Residence Life East Halls Resource Carnival to educate first-year students about campus resources during the first week of classes.
- Living in One Neighborhood (LION) Bash
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September | In Person
A combination of a resource fair and block party: the ultimate town and gown experience. Come by our table to learn about CAPS services and our commitment to the community.
- Q&A With CAPS
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October 19, 2022 | 4 - 5:00 p.m.
Have an upcoming interview or assignment about mental health? Generally curious about what we offer? Bring your questions: CAPS staff will be available to answer them!
Questions submitted in advance will be given priority.
Reviewing CAPS Wellness and Clinical Services is strongly recommended before attending.
- Parents & Families Weekend
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October 7-9, 2022 | In Person
A weekend for students, families, and caregivers. Come by our table to learn about CAPS services, as well as local resources that may best support your student in their college transition.
Reviewing CAPS Wellness and Clinical Services is strongly recommended before attending.
Spring Events
- Q&A With CAPS
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Spring 2023 Date to be announced
Have an upcoming interview or assignment about mental health? Generally curious about what we offer? Bring your questions: CAPS staff will be available to answer them!
Questions submitted in advance will be given priority.
Reviewing CAPS Wellness and Clinical Services is strongly recommended before attending.
- HUB Takeover for Campus Pride Month
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April 2023
April is Penn State's Campus Pride Month! Find us at the HUB during this exquisite celebration of community and identity.
- Take Back the Night
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April 2023
Take Back the Night is an annual event to support the voices of individuals who have experienced interpersonal violence and sexual assault, hosted by Lambda Theta Alpha.
- Out of the Darkness Walk
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April 2023
CAPS is a proud sponsor of the Centre County Out of the Darkness Walk, hosted by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, raising awareness and support for suicide prevention and research. You can annually find our provider resource table at this event of community, celebration, and remembrance.
Did you know...
...there are multiple wellness outreach options offered at Penn State?! Our partners at Health Promotion and Wellness also offer health education workshops! Program topics include:
- Resilience, Mindfulness and General Well-being
- Stress Less
- Got Sleep?
- Alcohol Workshop
- Mission: Nutrition
- Safer Sex Party
- How to Help a Friend with an Eating Disorder
- Health and Wellness Services and Resources at Penn State
Health Promotion and Wellness workshops are delivered by staff or trained peer educators (based on topic). Schedule through Health Promotion and Wellness to learn more or email promotinghealth@psu.edu!
- Outreach Event Inquiries
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Community collaboration and effective education is a priority. If another resource can best fit your needs, CAPS will help refer and connect you.
During peak clinical times, CAPS staff may be unable to fulfill requests. Events will not be scheduled during the last week of classes and finals week.
All outreach events have moved to a Zoom-based format until further notice. Recording is not permitted.
Criteria for outreach events include:
- Review options: Before requesting an event, review the options at the top of this page to see if a pre-existing program or video viewing would suit the needs of your group, including event recordings on the following topics:
- Advance notice: Submit your request at least two weeks prior to the event.
- Dates: During peak clinical times CAPS may be unable to fulfill requests. CAPS generally pauses engagement in outreach events 2 weeks before the end of the semester.
- Your attendance: If you (the requesting party) are unable to be present at the time of the event/presentation, plan to have a proxy in attendance. The representative may not be an intended audience member. For example, an instructor should not request that one of their students be enacted as their representative; however, a TA would be a feasible proxy.
- Audience confirmation: Please confirm the number of audience members that will be present prior to the event. If you are unable to guarantee attendance, we are happy to discuss a number of other options that may be feasible alternatives to better meet the needs of this group, including Life Hack Kits and the CAPS Virtual Library.
- Outreach Request Form completion: If your event meets all of the above criteria, please complete our Outreach Request Form. Do not send direct requests to staff persons at CAPS. All requests must come via the Outreach Request Form in order to be processed.
Not sure what you're looking for? Common topics include:
- Transition and Coping
- Distress & Emotion Management
- Self-Compassion
- Relationships, Boundaries, & Communication
- Anxiety Management
- Imposter Phenomenon
If you are requesting urgent support for a group of students affected by a significant event on campus or in the community, please contact Dr. Stephanie Stama (slf245@psu.edu).
- Media Interview Inquiries
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CAPS accepts interview requests from established media outlets in an effort to inform the community about mental health. All requests must come via the Outreach Request Form in order to be processed. Do not send direct requests to CAPS staff.
Guidelines for Media Interview Inquiries:
- Prior to requesting an interview, journalists and reporters are expected to review:
- The CAPS website,
- Events and recordings listed at the top of this page (including Q&A with CAPS), and
- Outreach and Education Resources list below.
- Requests must be made with at least one week advance notice.
- During peak clinical times, CAPS staff may be unable to fulfill requests. Interviews will not be scheduled during the last week of classes and finals week.
- Interviews are conducted with a CAPS staff member knowledgeable in the subject requested.
- Depending on the availability of the staff member within your deadline, interviews may only be available via email response.
- If another resource can best fit your needs, CAPS will help refer and connect you.
- When completing the Outreach Request Form, please include your deadline and interview questions in the "Description" section.
Looking to interview a mental health professional for a class assignment?
We invite you to attend an upcoming Q&A with CAPS event to have your questions answered (see the schedule at the top of this page for details). There are also a variety of sources on campus and in the local community who can help; please review the Outreach & Education Resources list below. If questions remain after corresponding with these sources, interview requests may be submitted for consideration on a case-by-case basis via the Outreach Request Form. Review the above interview guidelines before proceeding.
- Prior to requesting an interview, journalists and reporters are expected to review:
Outreach and Education Resources
- Center for Collegiate Mental Health (CCMH) - Practice-Research-Network (PRN) focused on providing accurate and up-to-date information on the mental health of today’s college students, including a blog series on the impact of COVID-19 on student mental health. Data on mental health issues among college students, as well as considerations commonly addressed by campus counseling centers, can also be found in the annual reports and by using the Data Navigator tool.
- Penn State Student Affairs – Offices and units aligned with supporting student functioning and success.
- Penn State Health & Wellness - Penn State offers a variety of resources to support student health and wellness, including University Health Services, Campus Recreation, Health Promotion and Wellness, and more.
- Faculty and Researchers – Multiple Penn State academic departments with specialists focusing on mental health, including Psychology, Biobehavioral Health, and Human Development and Family Studies.
- Local Providers and Organizations – Centre County, PA is home to multiple foundations, organizations, and private practitioners addressing mental health concerns.
- Jana Marie Foundation
- Centre Helps and other organizations within the Centre County United Way
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention of Eastern PA
- Center for Community Resources of Centre County
- UPUA Resource Center
- Penn State student organizations focused on mental health
- ThrivingCampus
- Psychology Today
- CAPS Wellness Services - Our Virtual Library, Life Hack Kits, and WellTrack are interactive knowledge bases that answer commonly asked questions.
- The CAPS Chronicle Newsletter - stay up to date with tips, services, and events.
- PsycInfo - primary database for international literature in psychology and related disciplines
- American Association of Suicidology
- PsychCentral
- Ginger Roots
- National Eating Disorder Association
- National Institute of Mental Health
- National Alliance on Mental Illness
The CAPS Chronicle:
Stay up to date on the most recent tools, tips, and events with The CAPS Chronicle!
