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Images from the Virginia Tech massacre weigh heavy on faculty's mind at Central New Mexico Community College.

After the April 16 incident, in which a student killed 32 people on the Virginia Tech campus before taking his own life, CNM faculty said it was necessary to raise awareness about mental health issues among students.

"We wanted to encompass just about everything and bring these issues to the forefront . . ." said Rudy Garcia, dean of students. "At Virginia Tech, the shooter did have mental health issues."

CNM's Mental Health Awareness initiative includes daylong mental health screenings and information sessions. It starts today at CNM's main campus and will be held at its three other campuses later in the the week.

The week of events is part of Garcia's initiative called the Year of Civility, which focuses on students being more cordial and understanding to each other.

Part of that understanding involves awareness about mental health on campus, said Sharon Gordon, director for the Center for Community Programs and Partnerships.

About 300 participants attended a pilot Mental Health Awareness Day in July, and 150 people were screened.

During this month's event, the school will be targeting a much larger audience, with a fall enrollment of about 24,000 students.

There will be depression and anxiety screenings conducted by trained staff on campus, said Kim Jeffries, achievement coach for the School of Educational and Career Advancement.

Thirteen nonprofit agencies, including the Rape Crisis Center and Alcoholics Anonymous, will set up tables and offer services and information related to mental health.

There will also be stress screenings held during the week.

Jeffries said it is common for students to suffer from anxiety and depression.

"Probably more anxiety is what we see, because of the stress of college life. Students are struggling managing their time," she said.

The average student at CNM is 27-28 years old, Jeffries said. Many of them juggle work, school and raising a family.

CNM faculty members are working on developing ways to help students cope with issues that might cause stress in their lives.

Right now the school has achievement coaches in each of five colleges who offer counseling to students, Jeffries said.

"They (coaches) are the first line of defense when they (students) need someone to talk to," she said. "They sit down and problem solve with the student and talk about their options and solutions."

Gordon said after the Virginia Tech tragedy, the college's goal has been to make sure mental health is everyone's issue. She also said it's important to be aware of the stresses students face in order to help them succeed.

"We're trying to find a way to provide resources and assistance to our students to keep them in school," she said.