Recognizing mental health support requires more than a \u201cone size fits all\u201d approach, Montclair State University has been awarded an $850,000 grant by the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) to help expand mental health resources for its students.<\/p>\n
The \u201cMental Health in Higher Education: Community Provider Partnership and
\nProfessional Development Grant\u201d funding allows higher education institutions to develop partnerships and expand professional capacity to meet the direct and unique mental health needs of students, with a focus on traditionally underrepresented student populations disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. All New Jersey colleges and universities were eligible to apply and receive funding.<\/p>\n
As a Hispanic-Serving Institution with a minority-majority student population, Montclair is optimally positioned to offer these services to its diverse population of more than 21,000 students.<\/p>\n
Funding from the grant will be overseen by Montclair\u2019s Counseling and Psychological Services and will include new resources and access for students as well as additional professional development for faculty and staff focusing on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.<\/p>\n
Vice President for Student Development and Campus Life Dawn Meza Soufleris said resources from the grant will go a long way in helping students cope with anxiety and depression.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s pretty broad in what we\u2019ll be able to accomplish,\u201d Soufleris said. \u201cThe grant not only includes money for things like nap pods on campus \u2013 we know there are sleep issues with this generation, and lack of sleep has a connection to anxiety, depression and performance \u2013 but also additional training for staff and others who provide triage and prevention for students, particularly in intersectionality and access to counseling, with a multicultural focus.\u201d<\/p>\n
The funding also covers training and support for Pebbles, Montclair\u2019s new \u201cpupscot.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThis is a wonderful opportunity that shows OSHE and the state understand the benefit of having emotional support animals on campus,\u201d Soufleris said.<\/p>\n Support from the state for such efforts is proof that mental health support is not cookie cutter, Soufleris added, and the programming made possible by the grant \u2013 expected to come to fruition by early fall \u2013 \u201cwill help us significantly hit it from a number of angles.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re hopeful this funding will provide needed training for faculty and staff as well as specialized mental health and substance use treatment opportunities for students. It\u2019s fantastic that the state is making mental health a priority given the impact of the pandemic on young adults. We are grateful that our community will benefit from this significant support,\u201d said Jaclyn Friedman-Lombardo, director of Counseling and Psychological Services.<\/p>\n For more information about Counseling and Psychological Services at Montclair, visit montclair.edu\/counseling-and-psychological-services<\/a>.<\/p>\n This article was featured in the Winter 2024 edition of Montclair<\/em> magazine<\/a>.<\/p>\n