Plymouth State University Joins JED Campus to Support Student Well-Being and Mental Health
PLYMOUTH, NH – Plymouth State University (PSU) has joined JED Campus, a nationwide initiative of The Jed Foundation (JED). The partnership will enable PSU to evaluate and strengthen its mental health, substance misuse, and suicide prevention programs and systems to ensure it has the strongest possible mental health safety nets in place.
PSU’s robust student-focused programs and services include the Student Support Foundation, the innovative “Swipe it Forward” initiative for sharing meal swipes with students who are food-insecure, and the TRIO program that focuses on PSU’s first generation college students, those who are financially challenged, and students with disabilities. By joining JED Campus, PSU reinforces its commitment to students.
Becoming a JED Campus involves a multi-year, strategic collaboration to assess and enhance the work that is already being done at PSU, and to help create positive, lasting, systemic change in the campus community. The program provides institutions with a framework for supporting student mental health, as well as assessment tools, feedback reports, a strategic plan, and ongoing support from the JED Campus Team.
“As a community, Plymouth State University is committed to meeting the needs of our students academically, socially, and emotionally,” says Marlin Collingwood, PSU’s vice president of Communications, Enrollment, and Student Life. “The JED Campus initiative provides us with a unique opportunity to look closely at our campus culture, policies, and practices in order to destigmatize mental health issues and create a positive, healthy environment for our students as they navigate this important time in their lives.”
“The college years are the age when many mental health issues first manifest, and it can be a time of significant stress and pressure,” says John MacPhee, executive director of JED. “JED Campus helps institutions by working with them to survey everything their university is doing 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.”
PSU’s membership in JED Campus begins with establishing an interdisciplinary, campus-wide team to assess, support, and implement program, policy, and system improvements. Upon completion of an assessment, JED Campus clinicians will provide a comprehensive, confidential feedback report identifying successes and opportunities for enhancements, and PSU will collaborate with JED to help implement them over the course of four years.
JED programs have been widely recognized for their impact and have received the American Psychiatric Association Distinguished Service Award, among other honors.
More information about Plymouth State University’s Student Support Services, is available here.
About The Jed Foundation
The Jed Foundation (JED) is a nonprofit that exists to protect emotional health and prevent suicide for our nation’s teens and young adults. JED equips teens and young adults with the skills and knowledge to help themselves and each other; partners with high schools and colleges to strengthen their mental health, substance misuse, and suicide prevention programs and systems; and encourages community awareness, understanding, and action for young adult mental health.
About Plymouth State University
Established in 1871, Plymouth State University serves the state of New Hampshire and the world beyond by transforming our students through advanced practices where engaged learning produces well-educated undergraduates and by providing graduate education that deepens and advances knowledge and enhances professional development. With distinction, PSU connects with community and business partners for economic development, technological advances, healthier living, and cultural enrichment with a special commitment of service to the North Country and Lakes Region of New Hampshire. To learn more about Plymouth State University, visit www.plymouth.edu.