Eligibility for SAMHSA’s GLS Campus Suicide Prevention Grant program is statutorily limited to institutions of higher education. Applicants from both public and private institutions may apply, including state universities, private four-year colleges and universities (including those with religious affiliations), Minority Serving Institutions of higher learning (i.e. Tribal colleges and universities, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving institutions and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions), and community colleges.

Entities that have previously been awarded a GLS Campus Suicide Prevention Grant are not eligible to apply. SAMHSA is limiting the eligibility to applicants who have not previously received an award in order to allow for a broader distribution of the limited funds across campuses and universities. Since the purpose of this program is to facilitate a comprehensive approach to preventing suicide in institutions of higher education, this program assists colleges and universities in preventing suicide attempts and deaths by suicide. It also enhances services for students with mental and behavioral health problems, such as depression and substance use/abuse that put them at risk for suicide and suicide attempts. These grants assist colleges and universities in having a campus free from the tragedy of suicide.

Such institutions may carry out the activities of this grant through college health/wellness/counseling centers, college and university psychological services centers, mental/behavioral health centers, psychological training clinics, academic departments or institutions of higher education-supported, evidence-based mental health and substance abuse programs. The activities of this grant may be carried out with the engagement of student-run services such as student organizations and/or student government councils. If a consortium is formed to carry out the activities of this grant, a single institution in the consortium must be the legal applicant, the recipient of the award on behalf of the consortium, and the entity legally responsible for satisfying the grant requirements.