GCC Among First Colleges and Universities in Nation Recognized for Comprehensive Mental Health Programming on Campus

Gateway has been awarded the JedCampus Seal from The Jed Foundation, a leading organization working to  promote emotional health and prevent suicide among college and university students. The seal recognizes schools that exhibit comprehensive mental health promotion and suicide prevention programming on campus. The seal is part of the Foundation’s JedCampus program, the first nationwide program to facilitate a school’s ability to assess and enhance their mental health support system from a campus-wide perspective.

“We are thrilled to receive the JedCampus Seal. I believe that the implementation of a campus-wide approach to mental health promotion will lead to a safer, healthier campus, and possibly greater student retention,” said Dorsey Kendrick, president of Gateway Community College. “I am very proud of our school’s mental health programming – from the Student Affairs team to the on-campus activities that promote connectedness. At GCC, we understand the importance of providing a safe place for students to learn and grow, which is why we strive for excellence in making a healthy and supportive college community.”

As part of the process to earn the seal, GCC took a voluntary, online self-assessment that reviewed the college’s campus mental health and suicide prevention programming. The Jed Foundation then compared the school’s responses to the recommended practices outlined in The Comprehensive Approach to Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention on College and University Campuses developed by The Jed Foundation and Suicide Prevention Resource Center. As part of this process, GCC received confidential feedback designed to help enhance its programming and resources.
 
“We are happy to be able to announce the first schools in the nation to receive the JedCampus Seal. Schools like Gateway Community College have shown they employ a comprehensive, community-based approach to mental health care which will result in the identification of and care for more at-risk students,” said John MacPhee, executive director of The Jed Foundation.

To learn more about the JED Foundations initiatives, visit www.jedfoundation.org.