New Haven, Conn. — Novemeber 10, 2026

Albertus Magnus College is pleased to announce it has been awarded $500,000 over four years through the US Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Garrett Lee Smith Campus Suicide Prevention Grant Program to launch Students Overcoming Risk and Adversity 2.0 (SOAR 2.0). Under the leadership of Albertus’ Director of Health & Wellness, Dr. Courtney Mattiace, the initiative will strengthen suicide prevention, mental health support, and substance misuse prevention for Albertus students.

Building on the Colleges original SOAR project, funded by SAMHSA in 2022, SOAR 2.0 responds to growing student needs. National data from the Center for Collegiate Mental Health show that students seeking counseling increasingly present with complex needs, including trauma histories and suicide risk, and Albertus’ own Counseling Center data reflect the same trend. SOAR 2.0 will strengthen the College’s capacity across a full continuum of care: prevention, early identification, intervention, crisis response, postvention, and continuity of care.

The project will deepen partnerships between campus departments and community behavioral health providers, and will emphasize in-person engagement and peer connection.

Founded by the Dominican Sisters of Peace in 1925, Albertus is guided by the Four Dominican Pillars of Study, Prayer, Community, and Service. SOAR 2.0 reflects that mission by building a campus culture where conversations about mental health are normalized, and every student knows where to turn for help. With nearly half of its students the first in their families to attend college, Albertus is committed to ensuring all students have the support they need to thrive.

This project is supported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $500,000, 100 percent funded by SAMHSA/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, SAMHSA/HHS or the U.S. Government.

Founded in 1925, Albertus is a coeducational Catholic College in the Dominican tradition. Albertus’ values- and liberal arts-based education is recognized by external rankings such as US News & World Report, Money, and The New York Times, and has been named a Top 10 Military Friendly School. For ten consecutive years, at least 95% of Albertus graduates have attained employment or entered graduate studies within six months of completing their degrees. The College enrolls approximately 1,400 students across its traditional undergraduate, accelerated adult undergraduate, and graduate programs. Albertus Magnus College takes pride in a student body where nearly half of undergraduates are first-generation students and Pell Grant recipients. The College is recognized for its innovative curricula, featuring programs in General Health Sciences and Public Health, as well as its newest offerings: a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Connecticut’s first LPN-to-BSN program. Among its distinctive graduate offerings are Masters in Healthcare Administration, Public Administration, MBA, and the State of Connecticut’s only Master of Arts in Art Therapy and Counseling program.

As it begins a second century, Albertus is implementing a new strategic plan, The Centennial Plan: Crossing the Bridge to a Second Century, that advances its bold vision as a resilient, inclusive, and forward-looking Catholic institution in the Dominican tradition. Grounded in the liberal arts and the Dominican Pillars of Study, Prayer, Community, and Service, the College prepares students to think critically, lead ethically, and thrive through innovative, immersive learning experiences that empower them to make a meaningful impact in their communities and beyond. To learn more, please visit albertus.edu.