Bengal Family Network September Newsletter

September 2022

Sending our Bengals Out Looking Fierce!

The ISU Career Closet, housed in the Veteran Student Services Center, is open to any student who needs clothing for an interview or other significant life event. This year, our Enrollment Management team has chosen the Career Closet as its focus for their 2022 Giving Back Initiative. They have challenged their colleagues to join them in donating gently-used professional attire because they believe in doing their part to give Bengals an edge in the interviewing process. Cash donations to assist with the cost of dry cleaning or alterations will also be accepted through the foundation dedicated to the Career Closet. Our thanks to our Enrollment Management team for their dedication to our ISU students’ success in the job market. If you have a student preparing for an interview or in need of some professional attire, encourage them to check out the Career Closet.

JCPenney Suit-Up! Event - September 22

The ISU Career Center will be hosting the annual fall JCPenney Suit-Up! event on Thursday, September 22, from 4:00-7:00 p.m., at the Pocatello JCPenney Store in the Pine Ridge Mall. This is also a virtual event where shopping can be done online. All ISU students, alumni, faculty, and staff are invited to participate by shopping for highly discounted professional clothing either in-store or online.

Opportunities in Social Work

Idaho has a critical need for social workers. If your student has ever thought about career opportunities in social services or helping others, this might be the right time to enroll in an MSW Program. Come and learn about ISU's Master of Social Work Program. Students can register on the Sociology, Social Work, and Criminology webpage or contact Fredi Giesler at ednagiesler@isu.edu. Information sessions will be hosted on Wednesday, September 21, and Tuesday, October 25, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. via Zoom.

Understanding Mental Health Airing on KISU-FM

Understanding Mental Health, hosted by psychologists Dr. Cameron Staley and Dr. Jennifer Miesch, answers your questions about mental health and counseling. As stigma around mental health and help seeking declines, there is an ever increasing need for accurate information to inform conversations and practices around mental health care. Understanding Mental Health seeks to fill the gap between mental health awareness and expert understanding for the Bengal community. Sponsored by the ISU Counseling and Testing Service, Understanding Mental Health airs the first Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. on KISU-FM.

Do you have a question about mental health or what to expect in counseling? Use this link to submit questions for the hosts to answer on an upcoming episode! To learn more about counseling services for currently enrolled ISU students or general mental health resources, visit the ISU’s Counseling and Testing Service website.

CLICK HERE FOR HOST BIOS

Talk Saves Lives: Suicide Prevention Training

Wednesday, September 7, 12:00-1:30 p.m.

Pocatello Campus: Pond Student Union Clearwater Room

Meridian and Idaho Falls Campus Locations TBA

Talk Saves Lives is the American Foundation for Suicide Preventions' standardized, 90-minute program that provides participants with a clear understanding of this leading cause of death, including the most up-to-date research on suicide prevention and what individuals can do in their communities to save lives. In this workshop, participants will learn common risk factors and warning signs associated with suicide and how to keep themselves and others safe. Topics include

Scope of the Problem: the latest data on suicide in the U.S., worldwide, and at ISU
Research: information about what causes people to consider suicide, as well as health, historical, and environmental factors that put individuals at risk
Prevention: an understanding of the protective factors that lower suicide risk, and strategies for managing mental health and being proactive about self-care
What You Can Do: guidance about warning signs and behaviors to look for and how to get help for someone in a suicidal crisis

For questions or to schedule a Talk Saves Lives workshop for your department or group, please contact Susan MaComb at macosusa@isu.edu or by phone at (208) 282-2130.

Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group

Losing a loved one to suicide can be a profoundly painful and isolating experience. The complexity of the emotions can feel overwhelming, and survivors often struggle to know who to talk to, fearing that others won’t understand. The Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group offers an opportunity to engage in discussion designed to help participants gain greater understanding and support. This group will be meeting from 4:00-5:00 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. Register here. The next gathering of this support group will be Thursday, September 8.

More Reasons to Love ISU

(Idaho State Today stories about opportunities for students you may have missed)

One of the things we like to celebrate at Idaho State is the breadth of real-world experiences our students can gain on campus and which we encourage them to pursue with the qualifications their education here provides. Check out some of the most recent student opportunities featured in our ISU news releases and University newsletters.