Healthy gains

As the world struggled in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, SUNY Adirondack recognized increased social, emotional and physical needs among the community, and responded by developing an office of Health and Wellness, creating wellness spaces around campus, joining a national suicide prevention network and extending training.

In addition to the college’s longstanding and well-respected Counseling team — Beth Braxton, associate professor of Counseling and licensed mental health counselor (LMHC); Holly Irion, assistant professor of Counseling and LMHC; Tara Booth, assistant professor of Counseling, LMHC, certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC), CASAC-T and coordinator of Community Connections; and Lindsay Farrar, LMHC and multicultural specialist — SUNY Adirondack brought on Lori Prock as director of Health and Wellness, and Tobey Gifford and Kyle Esposito as Wellness coordinators. The team develops programming and services focused on the six pillars of health — physical, emotional, social, spiritual, intellectual and occupational.

Wellness spaces were developed around campus to provide students, faculty and staff places to socialize, meditate, pray, study or reflect.

The college also joined the JED Campus network, an initiative of The Jed Foundation that helps colleges strengthen mental health, substance misuse, and suicide prevention programs and systems.

SUNY Adirondack faculty and staff members participated in Mental Health First Aid, a National Council for Behavioral Health training, as well as Stop the Bleed, Narcan and de-escalation trainings.

Hudson Headwaters Health Network’s mobile health care unit is a biweekly fixture on campus, providing care to cam- pus community members. A nurse from Glens Falls Hospital maintains weekday hours in an on-campus wellness space to ensure students have access to medical care they need.

WHAT: SUNY Adirondack extended its commitment to student well-being by developing an on-campus Health and Wellness office, joining the JED Campus Network and designating wellness spaces around the college’s Queensbury campus.

DETAILS: With a commitment to the six pillars of health, SUNY Adirondack offers programs, facilities and personnel devoted to health and wellness.

The Health and Wellness office is possible with funds designated to the college through the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a portion of which SUNY dictates must be designated to support the mental health and wellness of students.