The University of Michigan has initiated a partnership with the JED Campus program to enhance student mental health and well-being on campus. JED Campus is an initiative of the JED Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on suicide prevention and the promotion of mental health among teenagers and young adults.
The partnership aims to assess and improve student mental health at the University. JED Campus will provide guidance and support on issues related to mental health, substance use, suicide prevention, and the creation of a stigma-free, supportive environment for students.
Lindsey Mortenson, Chief Mental Health Officer of the University Health Service, highlighted the shared goal of enhancing student mental health. “JED strongly aligns with our aspirations to be evidence-based and public health-informed in our approach,” Mortenson stated. “This is a four-year partnership, and we are at the very beginning.”
As part of this collaboration, the School of Public Health conducted the Healthy Minds Study, an annual survey focusing on students’ stress levels and emotional well-being. The survey was distributed to 12,000 randomly-selected University of Michigan students to gather anonymous feedback on the University’s mental health efforts and to identify areas for improvement.
The University has already taken various steps in recent years to enhance its mental health services, including adopting the Okanagan Charter, establishing the Well-being Collective, and compiling a comprehensive continuum of care to outline available mental health resources on campus and in the community. Additionally, the University expanded its partnership with Uwill, an online counseling service, to provide all students with access to six free virtual counseling sessions.
While some students feel that the University can do more to prioritize student mental health, others appreciate the steps taken to support mental well-being and look forward to the University’s further expansion of mental health services as part of the partnership with JED Campus.
The partnership reflects the University of Michigan’s commitment to improving the mental health and overall well-being of its students.
