Wichita State University is expanding its impact on community mental wellness through a new partnership with OneRise, a leading advocate for behavioral health innovation. This collaboration will enhance the reach of the Suspenders4Hope program, providing critical mental health education and resources to communities across Kansas, particularly in underserved areas and among priority groups such as veterans, medical professionals, construction workers and hospitality industry employees. 

“Wichita State University has been a pioneer in community mental health through initiatives like the Suspenders4Hope program. Now, with the partnership between WSU and OneRise, we’re poised to expand this movement across Kansas and beyond,” said Dr. Jessica Provines, wellness AVP at Wichita State University and co-founder of Suspenders4Hope.

“Our mission is to bring hope to people in moments of despair by uniting all sectors--education, business, healthcare and others in this effort. This collaboration will enhance mental health services for everyone while driving innovation in how our communities address mental health challenges.”

The Suspenders4Hope program, developed at WSU, is a movement built on research and created in partnership with mental health professionals. The program offers free online training, workplace wellness resources and a community-driven approach to preventing suicide and overdose. In joining forces with OneRise, WSU aims to strengthen Kansas’ behavioral health network by training more advocates, equipping workplaces and breaking down barriers to care.

“We believe that mental well-being is crucial for a thriving community,” said OneRise president Matthew Tannehill “We are proud to partner with Wichita State University to support the Suspenders4Hope program and contribute to the positive mental health of our friends and neighbors in the region. Suspenders4Hope empowers individuals with a simple but powerful method to support mental wellness: Share, Ask, Support. It’s like the ’stop, drop and roll’ training we all learned as kids, but a lot more likely to be a skill we need to draw on at different points in our life.”

These steps foster hope, connection, and action — creating a stronger, healthier Kansas one conversation at a time. Suspenders4Hope offers free online mental health training for individuals and workplaces. Whether you’re an employer looking to improve workplace culture or simply someone who wants to help a friend in need, this training provides practical skills to recognize and respond to mental health concerns in your own life and the lives of others.

Be a mental health advocate with the Share, Ask, Support method.

• Share your own experiences to normalize conversations about mental health and express concern when you notice someone struggling.
• Ask for the help you need and check in on others—talking directly about suicide can save lives.
• Support without judgement, connect to resources and stay in touch.

Visit Suspenders4Hope.com to:

• Take free online training.
• View real stories of hope.
• Explore free wellness resources including instructions on how to build your own Hope Kit.

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Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling more than 23,000 students between its main campus and WSU Tech, including students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation driven.

Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students. The National Science Foundation ranked WSU No. 1 in the nation for aerospace engineering R&D, No. 2 for industry-funded engineering R&D and No. 8 overall for engineering R&D.

The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the Wichita State University main campus, is one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.

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