U of L joins initiative to support student mental health

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (KT) - The University of Louisville announced Tuesday it has joined JED Campus, a nationwide initiative of the Jed Initiative, in support of student well-being and mental health.

The program is intended to help schools evaluate and strengthen their mental health, substance misuse, and suicide prevention programs and systems, to ensure that schools have the strongest possible mental health safety nets.

According to U of L, JED Campuses participate in a multi-year strategic collaboration that not only assesses and enhances the work that is already being done, but also helps create positive, lasting, systemic change in the campus community. The program provides schools with a framework for supporting student mental health, as well as assessment tools, feedback reports, a strategic plan and ongoing support from the JED higher education team.

"Our students' wellbeing is our top priority," said U of L Interim President Lori Stewart Gonzalez. "We know the COVID pandemic has been particularly hard on our students and others across the country. JED Campus will provide another tool to help us best protect and support our students throughout their college careers."

U of L's membership in JED Campus begins with establishing an interdisciplinary, campus-wide team to assess, support and implement program, policy and system improvements and completing a confidential, self-assessment survey on its mental health promotion, substance use and suicide prevention efforts.

Upon completion of the assessment, JED subject matter experts provide schools with a comprehensive feedback report identifying successes and opportunities for enhancements. Over the course of four years, UofL will collaborate with JED to help implement enhancements. All self-assessment responses and feedback reports are confidential.

"The college years are the age when many mental health issues first manifest, and it can be a time of significant stress and pressure," said JED Chief Executive Officer John MacPhee. "JED Campus helps schools by working with them to survey everything their university is does to support their students' emotional health and find practical ways to augment these efforts in a comprehensive way. We believe that the implementation of a campus-wide approach to mental health will lead to safer, healthier communities, and likely greater student retention."

For more information about JED Campus, visit jedfoundation.org/our-work/higher-ed/.