Support for Struggling Students

UNCW is one of 17 UNC System institutions that will benefit from $7.7 million in new state funding to support mental health initiatives for college students. A previous $5 million grant was awarded to the UNC System in 2021.

“There has been a troubling rise in mental health challenges for young people across our nation, and we’re seeing the impact here in North Carolina,” said UNC System President Peter Hans. “We need to meet that need with urgency and compassion. These funds go a long way in helping us reach students who are struggling.”

The UNC System will collaborate with the North Carolina Community College System and the state’s independent colleges and universities to offer suicide prevention training to faculty and staff across all three education systems. The UNC System will also use this funding to continue to provide students across all UNC institutions access to an after-hours mental health hotline and develop a new resiliency training program for faculty, staff and students.

“Support from the state, the system office and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Dr. Lowell Davis clearly demonstrates recognition of the importance of providing a wide range of support to UNCW students while also decreasing the barriers associated with help-seeking,” said

Dr. Mark Perez-Lopez, director of UNCW Counseling Services. “Their support challenges the stigma associated with seeking mental health care and has a positive societal impact by improving well-being for students, faculty and staff at UNCW and in the Wilmington community.” – KV

In the last year, the UNCW Counseling Center funded several initiatives through this support, including:

After hours crisis response through Protocall, a service that works in conjunction with the UNCW Counseling Center to provide after-hours care for students.

Bystander Intervention Training for faculty, staff and students.

Off-campus micro-grants for students who need long-term, off-campus care or other services not provided by the university.

Case Management Services. The Counseling Center now has a full-time case manager who assists students with hospitalization or other needs associated with finding and following through with off-campus care.