Ohio University joins JED Campus to support student mental health

Ohio University has joined JED Campus in support of student well-being and mental health.

The program is a nationwide initiative of The Jed Foundation (JED) designed 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. Currently, nearly 500 campuses are engaged in the JED Campus program, reaching more than six million students in 44 states and the District of Columbia.

Joining JED Campus demonstrates a commitment to the emotional well-being of its students. JED Campuses embark on 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.

"People are facing many challenges and pressures on their mental health, but they are also ready to have conversations about it in ways I've never seen before,” said College of Health Sciences and Professions Dean John McCarthy. “It's the right time for this comprehensive look, discussion, and planning.”

“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 evaluate what their college or university is doing to support student emotional health and well-being 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.”

OHIO’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.

The JED Campus initiative is led by McCarthy and Mark Ferguson, assistant vice president of well-being, along with Hali Burleson, senior project manager of JED. Upon completion of the assessment, JED subject matter experts provide schools with a comprehensive feedback report identifying successes and opportunities for enhancements.

OHIO students will also be asked to participate in the Healthy Minds Study survey which launches Oct. 23, 2024. Over the course of four years, OHIO will collaborate with JED to help implement enhancements. All self-assessment responses and feedback reports are confidential.   

For more information about JED Campus, visit https://jedfoundation.org/our-work/higher-ed/ or see this video from the Jed Foundation.