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KALAMAZOO, Mich.—With a goal of promoting student well-being first and foremost, Western Michigan University is reaching out to Broncos to explore the pulse of campus. 

The Healthy Minds Survey, which runs from Feb. 15 to March 13, asks students to provide input about mental health issues and access to resources and services on campus. Around 8,000 students were randomly selected to participate through an email invitation. Those who participate will be entered into a sweepstakes for $100 and $500 prizes.

The survey marks one of the University’s final steps to become a JED Campus Alumni. The national initiative at more than 350 colleges and universities encourages campus leaders to increase student resilience and decrease the top two causes of death among young adults—suicide and accidents, including those caused by prescription drug overdoses or alcohol poisoning. 

Through a partnership that began in spring 2018, Western launched the Healthy Minds Survey, asking students to share their attitudes, behaviors and awareness of mental health issues. Now the University is sending out that same survey to determine the progress it’s made in the last three years.

Since its inception 51������, the 19-member JED Campus team, made up of representatives from across campus, has worked to create a more supportive climate surrounding mental health and expand resources for students. Those changes include:

• Promoting student mental health and wellness through Mental Health Awareness Week in fall 2020 and the Mental Health Summit for faculty and staff in spring 2020.

• Creating a staff position in student affairs that specifically focuses on mental health outreach.

• Developing Western CARES, a training session for faculty, staff and graduate assistants to learn how to help a student who is in distress.

• Participating in the Equity in Mental Health Framework (EMHF), a national pilot implementation project that addresses the mental health and well-being of students of color.

• Creating a more detailed plan for “postvention,” which is how the University offers support after a traumatic occurrence on campus.

Bolstered by EMHF and The Steve Fund, which supports the mental and emotional well-being of young people of color, Western is making significant progress for minority students on campus. A sub-group launched a campus climate survey to find out the needs of students of color, specifically those related to mental health resources and social programming. They also launched an online diversity and inclusion training for new students, faculty and staff.

“When mental health and wellness become campus priorities, a key result is that stigma is reduced around acknowledging challenges with one’s well-being and seeking professional services,” says Dr. Gary H. Bischof, the University’s initial point person for the JED Campus initiative and professor and coordinator of the Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling Program. He says through this partnership, other areas of campus have embraced holistic wellness initiatives, such as the creation of well-being platforms WellTrack and YOU 51������ and 51������ Athletics prioritizing mental health and wellness among student-athletes, who face unique demands and pressures. 

“I think we have done a good job increasing awareness,” Bischof says, “though we still have much work to do.”

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