Ohio University has embarked on the next phase of its collaboration with JED Campus, a strategic initiative focused on enhancing student mental health and well-being. This partnership aims to bring about lasting systemic change by leveraging existing programs and services. By participating in the JED Campus program, Ohio University gains access to a framework for supporting student mental health, assessment tools, feedback reports, a strategic plan, and ongoing guidance from the JED Higher Education team.
During the summer of 2025, Ohio University’s JED campus team established subcommittees to implement the strategic plan developed in the previous phase. These subcommittees are dedicated to various aspects of mental health and well-being on campus. One such group, the Environmental Safety team, led by Kathy Fahl and Chris Owens, focuses on evaluating physical spaces and policies to enhance campus environments. Working alongside postvention specialist Dr. Kurt Michael, they aim to recommend changes that strengthen protective factors.
Another subcommittee, the Gatekeeper Training team, co-chaired by Ann Brandon and Maureen Wagner, is dedicated to suicide prevention and gatekeeper training initiatives. By engaging faculty, staff, and students, this group promotes programs like Bobcats Who Care and QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) to raise awareness and provide essential training across the campus community.
The Campaigns subcommittee, led by Brooke Preston and Stephanie Maccombs-Hunter, focuses on fostering a culture of help-seeking behavior, encouraging shared responsibility for student well-being, and highlighting the crucial link between mental and physical health and academic success. Simultaneously, the Program Inventory team, co-chaired by Ashley Beatty-Smith and Michelle Gorman, is developing an inventory of life skills and peer support programs available on campus.
Furthermore, the Regional Higher Education team, led by Carissa Anderson and Hali Burleson, is responsible for implementing the JED Strategic Plan on regional campuses and enhancing existing mental health and well-being initiatives in those locations. The collaboration and dedication of these subcommittees reflect a comprehensive approach to mental health promotion and prevention across the university.
Hali Burleson, Senior Project Manager and Planner of JED and Well-Being, expressed enthusiasm for the progress made by the subcommittees, emphasizing the widespread campus engagement with the JED initiative. The involvement of various stakeholders underscores the collective commitment to supporting students’ mental health and well-being. As the initiative progresses, these subcommittees will continue to fortify a campus-wide safety net for students through proactive prevention efforts.
Ohio University joined the JED Campus program in the fall of 2024, aligning with the nationwide initiative by The Jed Foundation (JED) to evaluate and enhance mental health, substance misuse, and suicide prevention programs in educational institutions. The program, currently engaging close to 500 campuses across the United States, aims to provide robust mental health safety nets for over six million students. To learn more about Ohio University’s partnership with JED Campus and the organization’s mission, visit their official website.
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