Addressing Mental Health and Well-being

I’m writing to address a matter that deeply concerns all of us: the rising mental health crisis facing college campuses. Like many other institutions around the country, we’ve experienced several distressing situations over the past year, including the loss of students and other members of our community. 

During trying times, it’s more important than ever that we work together to ensure everyone feels seen and supported. While we can’t always change the world around us, we can foster a culture that empowers our students and employees to overcome obstacles, and provide them with the resources to thrive. 

In this spirit, I am proud to announce the formation of a task force to implement evidence-based strategies to cultivate hope and instill resilience within our community. National research underscores the profound impact that hope and optimism can have on individuals and communities facing mental health issues. Dr. Jude Uy from Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and Dr. Marie Cascarano from Health Promotion will lead the The “Hope and Healing Strategic Task Force” which will help guide our efforts to reduce risk factors on our campuses, provide accessible educational resources, encourage open dialogue, and integrate national research findings on hope and optimism into our institutional framework.

As important and valuable as this work is, one task force alone cannot solve this pressing issue. We are all responsible for the well-being of ourselves and those around us. As we kick off Mental Health Awareness Month, here are several tangible actions everyone can take to be part of the solution: 

1. Sign up for Mental Health First Aid Training. All of us can learn to identify, understand and provide initial aid to someone who may be struggling. Our goal is to create a safety net of support for each other. Sessions are still available in May and June. 
2. Take an online mental health screening and try TAO Connect, an online self-guided program to help support your mental health.
3. Foster connections with others by getting involved. Red Hawk News and Engage are great resources for students to stay up to date on what’s going on. Employees can learn about events through In the Know’s Monday morning Events Digest. 
4. Reach out in times of need. Students can speak to a counselor at Let’s Talk and Uwill or call CAPS at 973-655-5211. Faculty and staff can reach out to Concern, which offers free, confidential support services for all University employees and their families. 
5. Take care of your mind and your body. Our Office of Health Promotion often hosts events related to self-care and mindfulness. And our campus recreation department offers a wide variety of fitness programs for students and employees. 
6. Simply ask others how they’re doing, and really listen. Just acknowledging someone’s struggle in a caring, nonjudgmental way can mean a lot to a person who is having a tough time.  

If all of us do our part, we can build a positive community rooted in compassion, strength and support. This cannot be accomplished through just an email or a task force – but it can be done through a sustained collective effort.