As students return to campus after spring break, they'll notice a variety of changes across campus -- some visible, some less so -- to provide more support to those in crisis.

"The resources are there, at Gannett and across campus," said Susan Murphy, vice president for student and academic services, in a message to students in The Cornell Daily Sun. "Take advantage of them. Reach out, ask for help, and take good care."

The most visible change: Temporary fencing is in place or being installed on six campus bridges. University officials are currently developing long-term options, said deputy spokesman Simeon Moss.

University officials and mental health experts cite studies from around the world (some are posted on the caring community Web site http://caringcommunity.cornell.edu/) reporting that bridge barriers provide an effective deterrent without a corresponding increase in suicides by other means.

In a 2007 review of research and prevention strategies in Crisis: The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention, the Harvard School of Public Health reported that evidence at the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, the Clifton suspension bridge in Bristol, England, and the Grafton bridge in Auckland, New Zealand, showed that suicides by jumping decreased when barriers were installed, and increased when they were removed.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, similarly, cites statistics from bridges in Maine, Toronto and Washington, D.C., in a 2008 paper that concludes: "Based on the current state of the research, physical barriers are an effective means of preventing suicides on bridges. Further, there is no evidence that barriers on bridges lead to 'method substitution' for would-be jumpers."

On a local level, Jennifer Streid-Mullen, executive director of Suicide Prevention and Crisis Service of Tompkins County, issued a statement March 23 in support of the barriers.

"Bridge barriers in particular represent the most effective proven way of preventing deaths," she wrote. "We have supported the placement of bridge barriers since the late 1970s ... Since then, data supporting the effectiveness of opportunity barriers has only increased."

Monitors will continue on the bridges "as deemed necessary and appropriate," said Moss.

On the less visible side, Gannett Health Services has streamlined the process for connecting after-hours callers to a nurse or counselor, said Sharon Dittman, Gannett's associate director for community relations. With the addition of new counseling staff, they will increase availability of appointments in Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). Depression screening for visitors to Gannett will be extended to include all primary care visits.

Gannett's mental health promotion team also is meeting with more groups of faculty, staff and student leaders to help them "notice and respond" to those who may be exhibiting signs of distress, and adding resources to Gannett's Notice and Respond http://www.gannett.cornell.edu/notice/ Web site.

Staff will continue to check in regularly with students living in residence halls across campus. In the West Campus House System, live-in faculty, and graduate and undergraduate staff members are always available to help students with academic and personal issues during daily office hours, said Alice Cook House Dean Ross Brann; and staff will continue to check in with students at meals and in their rooms.

To help reach the 45 percent of students who live off campus, Tim Marchell, director of mental health initiatives at Gannett, briefed about 15 local landlords and property managers on how to identify and respond to signs of distress at a March 24 information session.

"It was very eye-opening for them," said Gary Stewart, deputy director for government and community relations. "The enthusiasm was wonderful and very gratifying." Additional sessions are being planned for the coming months.

Fraternity and sorority members will also have additional opportunities for Gannett's Notice and Respond training, said Travis Apgar, associate dean of students for fraternity and sorority affairs. The three councils that make up the governing body of the Greek community will also sponsor a visit this semester by Hajii Otto, "the Chill Out Guru," who will speak about handling stress and finding ways to relax.

Other initiatives, some led by staff and others by students, are taking shape across campus.

Dean of Students Kent Hubbell said his office is redoubling its efforts to reach out to students, and support students who reach out to classmates through student-run groups such as Empathy, Assistance and Referral Service (EARS) and Cornell Minds Matter.

And those groups are adding to their services. Cornell Minds Matter, which works to help students deal with stress and to reduce stigma associated with mental illness, will hold a community session on how to help a friend in need in Willard Straight Hall's Memorial Room March 30.

On March 31, the group will hold the first meeting of what will be a weekly support group for students who are under stress or feeling down. Other events, including a massage workshop and discussions with guest speakers, are scheduled throughout the rest of the semester.

The message to students is much more than a sound bite, said Thomas Bruce, vice president for university communications. "Cornell actually cares. We really do," he said. "There's not a single administrator on this campus who isn't devastated by the recent tragedies.

"One of my favorite things about working at Cornell is you're surrounded by 20,000 people who are all full of promise," he said. Safeguarding that promise is the most vital responsibility of every Cornellian, he added.

The past few weeks have brought students and administrators closer together, Bruce added, and the administration will continue to work with students to build on that partnership.

In a March 23 letter to The New York Times, President David Skorton noted the importance of that partnership in creating and maintaining a supportive, caring community. And in at least one place on campus recently, someone chalked an echo of Skorton's March 12 appeal to students. "If you learn anything at Cornell, learn to ask for help."