JED Campus Final Progress Report for SMCM by St. Mary's College of Maryland

ST. MARY’S COLLEGE OF MARYLAND

I O N

IthasbeenanhonortohaveSt.Mary’sCollegeofMaryland (SMCM)asapartofourJEDCampusprogramsinceFall 2022.Fromtheoutset,SMCMhasdemonstratedan incredibleamountofeffortandaproactiveapproachto enhancingstudentmentalhealth.Yourteam’sdedication toprotectingstudentwell-beinghasbeenaconstant drivingforcethroughoutthispartnership.Thisreportwas preparedafterreviewingSMCM’sJEDCampusPostAssessment,thesignificantprogressmadeontheJED CampusStrategicPlanbyyourdedicatedteam,andthe twoadministrationsoftheHealthyMindsStudyfrom2022 and2025.ThisFinalProgressReporthighlightsthenotable accomplishmentsachievedthroughyourconsistent partnershipanddeepcollaborationwithstudents,aswell asrecommendationstoconsiderasyoudevelopa sustainabilityplantocarrythisworkforward.

BasedonourreviewofSMCM’spreandpost-HealthyMinds Studydata,thepercentageofstudentswhofeelthat mentalhealthisacampuspriorityincreasedsignificantly from70%to82%.Thisshiftisadirectresultofthe intentionalworkyouradministrationhasputintolistening tostudentconcernsandfosteringacultureofwellness. Furthermore,morestudentsnowreportleadinga purposefulandmeaningfullife,havingsupportivesocial relationships,andfeelingempoweredtoseekhelpifthey faceamentalhealthchallenge.Therehasalsobeena positivetrendinstudentsreportingabstinencefromdrugs. Thesemetricsareatestamenttothehardworkofyour multi-disciplinaryteamandyourcommitmenttousing studentinputtodriveinstitutionalstrategy.

STRATEGICPLANNING

Engaginginanactiveandcontinuousstrategicplanningprocessallowsschoolsto evaluateclinicalandprogrammingneedsandtoexaminehowtheydeploybothpersonal andfinancialresourcestoaddressstudentmentalhealthchallenges.Fundamentally,the establishmentofamentalhealthstrategicplanindicatestostudentsandother stakeholdersthatmentalhealthisacorevaluefortheschool.

StudentMentalHealthasaCampuswidePriority (Objective1.1-1.3)

OveryourtimeasaJEDCampus,SMCMhastransformedstudent emotionalwellbeingintoavisiblecampuswideprioritywithacommitted multi-disciplinaryteamdrivingthisworkforward.Throughoutthe program,youkepttheinitiativevisibleandtoldthestoryofyourprogress bylaunchingadedicatedwebsite,runningsocialmediaeducational campaigns,andengaginginconsistentoutreachthroughtablingand presentationstofaculty,staff,andtheSGA Byrecruitingandengaging studentvoicesintheseefforts,youhaveeffectivelypromotedacultureof sharedresponsibilityforstudentwellness.Continueinthesedirections!

STRATEGICPLANNING

students agree that the campus climate encourages open discussion about mental and emotional health 9/10

DataCollection,Analysis,andStrategy (Objective1.4-1.6)

St.Mary’scollectsandanalyzesawidevarietyofstudentdatatoensure institutionalstrategiesarerootedinactualstudentneed.Youhave expandedyourdatacollectionpracticestodrivesystemiccampus improvements,suchasstreamliningtheOfficeofStudentFinancial Servicestoresolvebillingconfusion,launchingadedicatedtransfer studentorientation,andinitiatingalarge-scalerenovationoftraditional dormitories.Byidentifyingspecificacademicmilestonesandthesuccess oftheSeahawkAcademicImprovementandLearningStrategies(SAILS) course,youhavealsoempoweredadvisorstoprovidemoretargeted, data-drivenacademicguidance.Furthermore,youhaveintentionally analyzeddatatoinformservicesforspecificsubpopulations including studentsofcolor,queerandtransspectrumstudents,military-connected students,andfirst-generationoreconomicallydisadvantagedstudents leadingtovitalchangeslikeincreasedreproductivehealthservicesand theestablishmentofdirectadvocacymeetingsbetweenstudentsand seniorleadership.

DEVELOPLIFESKILLS

Supportinglifeskillseducationisvaluableinteachinghealthywaystocopewiththe stressofcollegelife.Someofthelifeskillsthatareimportanttoastudent'swell-being includemanagingfriendsandrelationships,problemsolving,decisionmaking,identifying andmanagingemotions,healthyliving,andfindinglifepurposeandmeaning.

LifeSkillsandAcademicSkillsProgramming

(Objective2.1-2.2)

St.Mary’sCollegeofMarylandhasdevelopedanarrayoflifeskillsprogrammingthat bridgesbothacademicandnon-academicsuccess.Byutilizingafillablelifeskills inventorytoidentifycurrentscopeandpotentialgaps,youhavemovedtowarda moreintentional,collaborativeeffortacrossvariouscampusdepartments.This includesexpandingyourcurriculumtocoveressentialtopicssuchasmanaging personalfinancesandtransitionplanningforgraduateschool Throughthese initiatives,youareequippingstudentswithmeaningfultoolstoapproachlife’s challengesbothinandoutoftheclassroom.Continuetoassessthisprogrammingfor attendance,satisfaction,andlearningoutcomestoensureitmeetsevolvingstudent needs

ExploringLinks (Objective2.3-2.4)

Youhaveestablishedmeaningfullinksforyourstudentsbycreatingprogramming thathighlightstheimpactoflifestylechoiceslikesleep,exercise,andnutritionon generalwellness.YourcollaborationwithAthleticsduringWellnessWeek,alongwith theimplementationofwellnesscoachingandstress-bustereventsduringfinals,has helpedthecommunityexplorethedirectconnectionsbetweenphysicalhealth, emotionalwell-being,andacademicsuccess Thesecampaignsenablethecampusto maintainabroad,holisticviewofwellnessthatsupportsstudentsduringhighpressureperiodsoftheacademicyear.Continuingtostrengthenthese interdepartmentaltieswillfurtherembedacultureofwellness.

PROMOTESOCIALCONNECTEDNESS

Researchhasshownthatlonelinessandisolationaresignificantriskfactorsformentalhealth problemsand/orsuicidalbehavior.Therefore,supportivesocialrelationshipsandfeeling connectivetocampus,family,andfriendsareprotectivefactorsthatcanhelplowerrisk.

St.Mary’shasdonemeaningfulwor cangatherandbuildconnectionsw partoffosteringastrongsenseofco consistent,large-scaleeventsthrou WelcomeBackBBQ&CarnivalandH reliabletouchpointsforsocialengag considerregularlyassessingstuden opportunitiestoengage,feelinclud theirsenseofbelonging.

SpacesforStudentGatherings

Peermentoringisapowerfuloppor meaningoftheirtimeonyourcamp newstudentswithmeaningfulconn commitmenttothismodeliseviden ofstudentsreceivetheseservices,w first-yearCoreSeminarcourse.

PeerMentoringPrograms(Obj

ofstudentsfeelthattheirsocial relationshipsaresupportiveand rewardingcomparedto73%at baseline

PROMOTESOCIALCONNECTEDNESS

It’sgreattoseethateffortstofoster embeddedonyourcampus.Youhav supportivespacesforstudentstodis andinternationalevents,suchasele helpsstudentsfeelseenandsuppor continuethiswork,regularlyreview approachremainsresponsiveandre Researchhasshownthatlonelinessandisolationaresignificantriskfactorsformentalhealth problemsand/orsuicidalbehavior.Therefore,supportivesocialrelationshipsandfeeling connectivetocampus,family,andfriendsareprotectivefactorsthatcanhelplowerrisk.

OfferingBelongingServices(Ob 03

St.Mary’shascreatedproactiveacti experiencingisolationordisconnect maintainedastrongfoundationwhe studentleadersaretrainedtoidenti whilealsokeepingfamiliesinformed this,youhavenowimplementedpee focusedonreachingouttoisolated communicationchannelsensuretha identifiedearlyandreintegratedinto targetedsupportandprogramming

IsolatedStudentOutreach(Ob

IDENTIFYSTUDENTSATRISK

Itisimportanttotakeactiontoidentifystudentsatriskformentalhealthproblemsand/or suicidalbehavior,andalsotopromoteemotionalhealthawarenessamongthosewho interactwithstudentsthemost–suchasresidencehallstaff,academicadvisors,faculty, andevenfellowstudents–asitisvitalforthesepeopletobeabletorecognizeandrefera studentwhomightbeindistress.

SupportinTransition(Objective

St.Mary’sCollegeofMarylandhasstre ensuringstudentswithmentalhealtho connectedtoresourcesbeforetheyarr utilizeacomprehensivehealthhistory youhavenowshiftedtowardmoredire whoself-identifyasneedingsupport.B thesestudentsaboutavailableservice familieswithguidanceonidentifyingp andtheVirtualStudentSuccessCenter netthatpreventsdelaysincare.

ScreeningOpportunities(Objective5.1-5.3)

Toensurenostudentfallsthroughthecracks,St.Mary’shasexpanded screeningopportunitiesacrossmultipletouchpointsofthestudent experience.Inadditiontomaintainingscreeningsonthecounseling webpageandduringeveryhealthcentervisit,youhavefocusedon publicizingthesetoolstoincreasecampus-wideliteracyonhowtouse them.Your"LiveWell"daysand"CounselingWelcome"dayshave becomeregularfixturesthatnormalizehelp-seeking.Bybringingin outsidepartnerssuchascountyhealthdepartmentsandincorporating interactiveelementslikeDUIsimulatorsandmocktails,youhavemade clinicalscreeningavisibleandaccessiblepartofabroadercultureof wellness.

IDENTIFYSTUDENTSATRISK

Youhavemadesignificantstridesinensur astudentseekingassistancebyscalingup campus Facultyarenowtrainedtouseth communicateconcerns,andtheCAREtea presentationonidentificationandreferra departments.Onthestudentside,youha impactgroups,includingResidentAssista studentsintheWellnesscourse.Withthe (Question,Persuade,Refer)andMentalHe buildingacampusenvironmentwherebo areequippedtoprovideimmediate,inform

MentalHealthTraining(Objective6

% of students indicating that they would speak to "no one" about mental health problems impacting their academic performance

INCREASEHELP-SEEKINGBEHAVIOR

Manystudentswhoneedhelpmaybereluctantorunsureofhowtoseekitout.Obstacles tohelp-seekingincludelackofawarenessofmentalhealthservices,skepticismaboutthe effectivenessoftreatment,prejudicesassociateswithmentalillness,anduncertainty aboutcostsorinsurancecoverage.Campusesshouldengageinavarietyofactivities designedtoincreasethelikelihoodthatastudentinneedwillseekhelp.

AccessibilityofCampusWebsit

Informationregardingcounseling,he ishighlyaccessibleonyourcampusw andhealthcenterpageslocatedjust homepage.Youhavesignificantlyim updatingsearchkeywords,suchas" WellnessCenterandbydevelopinga integratesphysicalandmentalhealt alongsidetheadditionofaservicesF providerlists,ensurestudentscanfin transparently.

Yourcampushastransitionedfromsi servicestolaunchingculturallyrespo mentalhealthchallengesanddestigm ofthiseffortistherobustPeerHealth

NASPA-certifiedandMentalHealthFi monthlyinitiativesonsuicidepreven management.High-impacteventslik integrationof"SeizetheAwkward"vi meetingshavesuccessfullybroughtt ofthecampus.Byincorporatingstud Month"surveys,youhaveensuredth studentvoicesandasharedcultureo

StudentMentalHealthCampaig

INCREASEHELP-SEEKINGBEHAVIOR

ofstudentsagreethatwhenthey feeldepressedorsad,theytend tokeepthosefeelingstothemself, comparedto81%atbaseline

OnlineResourcesforStudents(

Yourcampuseffectivelyutilizesspeci nationalorganizationstoenhanceloc toolsfromActiveMindsandintegrati model,youprovidestudentswithevi themselvesandtheirpeers.Theseres throughyourupdateddigitalplatform andtheWellnessCenterwebsite,ens tohigh-qualitymentalhealthinforma

Studentsareawareofmental healthoutreacheffortson campus,an11%increase

PROVIDEMENTALHEALTH& SUBSTANCEUSESERVICES

JEDencouragesinstitutionstoprovideaccessible,consistent,andhigh-qualitymental healthandsubstanceusesupportservicesforstudents.Effectivecareincludes appropriatestaffinglevels,variedandflexibletreatmentoptions,andstrong collaborationwithoff-campusproviders.Ensuringstudentshaveaccesstothesupport theyneedcanplayavitalroleinpromotingwell-being,reducingrisks,andsupporting theiracademicsuccess.

MedicalLeavePolicies(Objecti

WhenyourinstitutionbegantheJED policywasalreadyinplace;howeve ittoalignwithJED’srecommendati providesconciseexpectationsforst processiswell-coordinatedacrossc betweenphysicalandmentalhealth lengthandtermsofleavearehandle theflexibilityneededforasuccessfu withthe2024Marylandlawensuring reimbursementforbothphysicalan institutionhaseffectivelyaddressed Theseimprovementsensurethatstu withaclear,supportedpathtoward

of students needed help for emotional/mental health problems in the last 12 months, compared to 76% at baseline 56%

PROVIDEMENTALHEALTH& SUBSTANCEUSESERVICES

WhenSt.Mary’sCollegeofMaryland counselingcenter’sClinicalLoadInd approximately90%ofotherinstitut studentratiobetween1:1000and1: collegehasmadeasubstantialshift andexpandingtheclinicalteam,bri every1000studentsorfewer.Thisin continuationofpsychiatricmedicat robustsupport.Thesestructuralim counselingcentercanmoreeffectiv theoutreachandconsultationservi

ClinicalServices(Objective10.

TriageSystem(Objective11.2

St.Mary’sCollegeofMarylandhasr accessibilityforstudents.Thecouns centralizedfacilityinthecampushu servicesandtheinclusionofinterns hoursfortriage,supportedbyPeer counselingduringthiswindow.Add studentstomeetwithoutsideprovi after-hoursemergencycare,thecol visiblesupportsystemthatisrespon andoutsideoftypicalbusinesshour

PROVIDEMENTALHEALTH& SUBSTANCEUSESERVICES

AlcoholandDrugUseServices(Objective12.1-12.10)

OveryourtimeasaJEDCampus,St.Mary’sCollegeofMarylandhas refineditsalcoholanddrugpoliciestobettersupportstudentsafetyand acultureofwellness.Youhavefurtherpublicizedyourmedicalamnesty policy,ensuringstudentsaremoreawareoftheprotectionsinplace whencallingforhelpduringemergencies.YourPeerHealthEducators havealsotakenaleadroleinprovidingstrategicallytimedmessaging campaigns,transitioningfromdecentralizedoutreachtomoreconsistent educationregardingsubstanceuserisks,includingopiatemisuseand poly-substanceeffects.Additionally,youcontinuetoofferNaloxoneand relatedtrainingtostudentsatrisk,healthandcounselingstaff,and publicsafetyofficers.Thesecombinedeffortsinorientation programmingandemergencyresourcedistributionincreasethe likelihoodthatstudentswillreceivelife-savingassistancewhenitis neededmost.

15%

Thenumberofstudentswhoreportabstainingfromdrugs inthepast30dayshasincreasedfrom63%to78%

CRISISMANAGEMENTPROCEDURES

Havingclearcrisismanagementpoliciesandprotocolsinplace,includingafocusoncrisis preventionandeffectiveresponseswhencrisesoccur,iscentraltothesafetyofstudents andthecampuscommunity.Clearandaccessibleemergencyandpostventionprotocols helpguidefacultyandstaffwhenastudentisstrugglingandprovidereadilyaccessible emergencyinformation,includingcrisisphonenumbers,chat,andtextservices.

PostventionProtocol(Object

St.Mary’sCollegeofMarylandhas developingacomprehensivepostv practices,workingtowardamaste departmentalbreakoutsandcoord EmergencyResponseTeam.Thed roundsofupdatesandiscurrently approvalstages.Oncefinalizedan willensurethecampusisprepared withthenecessaryefficiencyands

Overthecourseoftheprogram,youhaveexploredandimplemented alternativewaystomarkethowthecampuscommunitycanreport concernsandaccesshelp Theseeffortsincludeutilizingstudent organizationsliketheSGAandcampusmediatopublicizeresources,as wellasexploringhigh-visibilityplacementsforemergencyinformation suchasresidentialhalldoors,bathroomstalls,andthebackofstaff businesscards.Bycontinuingtopublicize24/7emergencycrisistextand phonelinesthroughthesediversechannels,youareensuringthatvital supportinformationisintegratedintothedailyenvironmentofthe campus.

PROMOTEMEANSSAFETY

Restrictingorlimitedaccesstopotentialmeansofself-harmisoneofthemosteffective waystopreventsuicide.Researchhasshownthatifthemeanstoself-harmarelimited, individualswillnotsubstituteforadifferentplan.Whencommonmeanstosuicideare limitedinanenvironment,it’sbeenshownthattheoverallsuicideratedeclines.

01 EnvironmentalScan(Objective15

SincebeginningtheJEDCampusprogr comprehensiveenvironmentalscanto risksregardingaccesstolethalmeanso approachincludesacommitmenttoco ensurethecampusenvironmentremai alsoidentifiedstrategiclocationsforin planningtheinstallationof988Suicide waterfrontandotherkeyareas.Continu willhelpyourteamstayaheadofemer maintainasecurecampusforallstuden

St.Mary’sCollegeofMarylandhastake topotentialmeansofself-harm,includ rooftops,balconies,andhigh-riskmate addressthesafedisposalofmedication implementedasafedisposalsysteman availableforstudentandcommunityu effortsintohigh-visibilitycampuseven take-backinitiativestoencouragether materials.Bymaintainingtheserestric disposalprograms,youaresignificantl intentionalharmoncampus.

MeansSafetyRestrictions(Objec

NEXTSTEPS

Wheredoyougofromhere?Sustainabilityreportsare notjustaboutlookingback,butalsolookingforward.

StudentMentalHealthas

Asyoumoveforward,itwillbe studentemotionalwellbeingas infuturestrategicplansanden understandtheirroleinthecam mentalhealth Ensurethereisa mentalhealth,andprioritizeco worktoyourcampuscommuni fromupperleadership

FromJED’sperspective,theres studentsandthereshouldben themtoseekassistance.JEDre facultyand60%ofstudentsbe peoplearetrained,ensurethey theydonotforgettheseskillsw

MentalHealthTraining

NEXTSTEPS

Insurancecoveragecanhaveapositiveimpactonstudents'mental healthandemotionalwellbeingandcanfavorablyimpactastudents abilitytoremaininschool.JEDrecommendsofferingaschoolsponsoredhealthinsuranceplanandrequiringahardwaiver

Finalizingyourpostventionprotoco quicklyandappropriatelytoanyem recommendensuringyourpostvent withtheHEMHA’sbestpracticesgui responseandsavesvaluabletimedu

Wewouldalsoencourageyoutodevelopamandatoryleavepolicy Whilethisshouldbeusedveryrarely,itishelpfultohavetheprocess clearlyexplainedforanyaffectedstudents,staff,andthecampus community PostventionProtocol

AhugethankyoutotheSt.Mary’sCollegeofMaryland JEDCampusleads,JessJollyandLibbyWilliams,aswell astheentireJEDCampusTeam.

SteeringCommittee

ChrisCoons,AssistantDirectorofPublicSafety

A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S

CrystalGibson,DirectorofAthleticsandRecreation

JoanneGoldwater,AssociateDeanforRetentionandStudentSuccess

LolitaHope,StaffTherapist,CounselingandPsychologicalServices

DerekYoung,DeanofStudents

HyunS.Chung,Student

AngelieRoche,StudentAlum

ZacharyPisarz,StudentAlum

JEDWorkgroupMembers

DebBello,DirectorofHealthServices

KelseyBush,CommunityAffairsLiaison

DanielleBrush,DirectorofResidenceLife

AnandiEhman,AssistantProfessorofPsychology

MariaHaugaard,StaffTherapist,CounselingandPsychologicalServices

KathyKoch,AssociateProfessorofEducationalStudies

AliseMaxie,CoordinatorofMulticulturalProgramming

AshleyMcClintock,OfficeAssociate

KellyO’Grady,DirectorofAccessibilityServices/ADACoordinator

GretchenPhillips,CommunicationsSpecialist

AmandaVerMeulen,DirectoroftheLibrary

RainaCrew,StudentAlum

AshleyJohnson,StudentAlum

MollyJacobs,StudentAlum

NadiaLonnberg,StudentAlum

Wethankyouforyourcontinuedsupportin supportingwellbeingeffortsonyourcampus

CONTACT

JeniBeckman,Consultant,MentalHealthandSuicidePrevention jeni@jedfoundationorg

EricaRiba,SeniorDirector,AlumniProgramsandEngagement erica@jedfoundation.org https://jedfoundationorg/