August 19, 2025 – Khon Kaen University, through the Division of Student Development and Alumni Relations, organized a practical training workshop on “Mental Health Crisis Management in Students” to enhance the skills of its support network in handling critical situations. The program also laid the foundation for establishing a more systematic referral, monitoring, and care system to ensure effective and sustainable support for students’ well-being. The opening ceremony was presided over by Assoc. Prof. Pensri Jaroenwanit, Ph.D., Vice President for Student Affairs and Innovation Commercialization, at Meeting Room 1, Division of Student Development and Alumni Relations.
In her remarks, Assoc. Prof. Pensri Jaroenwanit stressed that Khon Kaen University is committed to providing holistic care for students, covering academics, daily life, and travel safety. However, she noted that mental health is now a critical dimension that requires greater attention. She called on staff across the university’s support network to join efforts in creating accessible counseling channels and in offering attentive, empathetic care to all KKU students.
The training emphasized building essential frontline skills and featured expert speakers from Khon Kaen Rajanagarindra Psychiatric Hospital, led by Dr. Kanokwan Kittiwattanakul and Ms. Atchariya Nakachat. The program was designed to respond directly to the need for a structured care system. Key learning modules included understanding mental health issues in higher education and their urgency, assessing crisis situations by defining what constitutes a crisis and identifying contributing factors, and managing cases using the Incident Command System (ICS). ICS, as an internationally recognized framework for crisis management, equips staff to coordinate effectively, respond step by step, and reduce confusion, thereby improving the efficiency of assistance provided.
The ultimate goal of this initiative is to develop a confident, well-prepared support network capable of delivering initial assistance while also serving as an integral part of a referral and monitoring system. This ensures that students experiencing mental health crises receive continuous professional care. The program marks an important step toward strengthening KKU’s long-term framework for safeguarding student well-being.
News & Photos: Division of Student Development and Alumni Relations
