Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College received a $120,000 grant to expand mental health services to students.
According to a release, a 2018 survey of Minnesota college students found more than 40 percent reported mental health issues and 55 percent indicated that these mental health issues impacted their academic performance.
Travis Greene, associate vice president of student life & success for both BSU and NTC, says the grant will help both institutions provide additional resources to help students overcome mental health-related that might otherwise hinder their academic success.
“We are honored to receive this very generous grant,” he said. “These funds will strengthen our capacity to meet our goals of equity and student success, and better support the mental health and wellbeing of our students — regardless of whether they are on-campus or online students.
“We also owe thanks to Jenna Trisko, our grant writer, for helping us develop this successful proposal.”
The funding will support the hiring of a new case manager, and provide increased support for student psychiatric care and equipment needed for secure Telehealth services, according to Yvette Anderson, director of BSU’s Student Center for Health and Counseling.
“These services are integral to ensuring student access to and coordination of mental health services,” Anderson said. “Our main priority with this grant is to advance access to care to improve student health, well-being and academic progress. Positive mental health tends to coincide with a student’s level of retention and persistence through college.”
