Texas A&M System joins more than 400 universities participating in the JED Campus Initiative.
jed foundation
Texas A&M University System is conducting multiple projects to evaluate existing mental health services across campuses and identify opportunities for improvement through a new partnership with the Jed Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and protecting the mental health of young people. We will begin a year-long effort.
Over the next four years, the flagship campus and other system schools will build on existing student mental health, substance use, and suicide prevention efforts through a comprehensive system, programs, and They will receive guidance on policy development. As part of the collaboration, Texas A&M will participate in the Healthy Minds survey. A randomly selected survey of students, faculty, and staff will be conducted to understand the university community's attitudes, perceptions, and experiences regarding mental health.
More than 400 universities participate in the JED Campus Initiative.
“The JED campus is an investment in the mental health and well-being of Texas A&M University,” said Dr. Nancy Fahrenwald, vice president for university health services. “It's been a four-year effort for her to examine the data, policies, and program practices that support mental health, suicide prevention, and health communities as a whole. It takes a lot of time to do this work, but Texas A&M We are very pleased that we have agreed to do the work.”
President Mark A. Welsh III said the university wants to create an environment where seeking help for mental health concerns is not only accepted, but encouraged.
“We want our students to understand that taking care of their mental health is not a sign of weakness, but rather an act of strength,” Welsh said. “If you are suffering from anxiety, depression, stress, or other mental health issues, please know that you are not alone and that help is within reach. Mental health must be prioritized just as much as physical health.”
Fahrenwald said a baseline assessment of existing policies, training and other resources has been completed. Second, the Healthy Minds Study provides a more detailed picture of student and employee mental health, service utilization, and other issues. She said the approximately 12,000 students at Texas A&M, as well as all students at her campus in Galveston, will receive an email about the survey when it opens on April 2. All benefit-eligible faculty and staff on the Flagship She Campus and Galveston campuses are also invited to participate.
The confidential information collected from this study, administered by the University of Michigan, provides important insights into the daily experiences of students and employees.
“Aggies want to support each other and we know their opinions are valuable to the entire community, so we hope to see an overwhelming response to the survey.” Fahrenwald said.
The JED Campus initiative is led by an Executive Steering Committee that includes representatives from University Health Services, the Office of the Provost, the Office of Student Affairs, and the Galveston Campus.
- Co-chair, Dr. Nancy Fahrenwald, Vice President for University Health Services
- Co-chair, Dr. Tim Scott, Vice President for Academic Affairs
- Co-chair, Dr. Justin Jeffrey, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs
- Alicia Dorsey, Vice Provost for Academic Impact and Planning
- Joe Hoff, Director of Recreation and Sports, Texas A&M University Galveston
A larger steering committee will be appointed to prioritize the strategic planning elements of the program.
Fahrenwald said the Jed Foundation is a national leader in youth mental health and suicide prevention efforts. This nonprofit organization was founded by parents who lost their son Jed to suicide in 1998. The JED Campus Program helps universities assess needs and identify opportunities for new tools that lead to measurable improvements in student mental health.
“Sometimes we need the lens of someone who doesn't live in our world to see things we can't see,” Fahrenwald said of the benefits of the partnership. “Sometimes we don't realize that there might be a better way to do things. The JED Campus program also has a community component, where we become part of a learning community with universities across the country. We can look to each other for ideas and opportunities for improvement.”
The JED Campus Program and Healthy Minds Study are the latest in a series of efforts by Texas A&M to support student mental health. Last fall, the university launched the “Aggies Will Not Rise Alone” campaign. This is a call to action in the 12th tradition for Aggies to come together and support each other in prioritizing mental health.
For more information on resources available to students and employees, please visit mentalhealth.tamu.edu.
