Mercy University Secures $500,000 Federal Grant for Campus-Wide Mental Health Support

In a significant development for student well-being, Mercy University has been awarded a $500,000 federal grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This four-year award is earmarked to strengthen and expand campus-wide suicide prevention, mental health education, and student support initiatives across the university's three campuses.

The funding, provided through SAMHSA's Garrett Lee Smith (GLS) Campus Suicide Prevention Grant Program, will underpin Mercy RISE (Resilience, Intervention, Support and Empowerment). According to Mercy University, this initiative is designed to enhance campus-wide suicide prevention by expanding early identification, increasing access to behavioral health services, implementing evidence-based prevention strategies, and building a sustainable infrastructure to improve student well-being.

Addressing a Critical Need in Higher Education

The mental health landscape for college students presents ongoing challenges. According to the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), a significant 33.2% of individuals aged 18 to 25 experience mental illness, with 9.4% facing serious mental illness. These statistics underscore a national imperative to support young adults during a pivotal period of their lives.

Mercy University's own data from the 2024–2025 Healthy Minds Study further highlights this urgency. The university reports that 62% of its students experience symptoms of at least one significant mental health concern. Alarmingly, an estimated 3,000 students with identified needs are not receiving treatment, indicating a pressing need for expanded prevention and early intervention efforts within the university community.

As Colleen Powers, executive director of Health and Wellness at Mercy University, stated, “This award represents a significant investment in the health and well-being of our students. The funding will allow us to build upon the important work already underway through our JED Campus and other initiatives and further develop a comprehensive, proactive approach to mental health promotion, suicide prevention and student support.”

Mercy RISE: A Comprehensive Approach to Student Support

Mercy RISE is poised to build upon the university's existing efforts, including its participation in JED Campus since 2025. JED Campus is a nationwide initiative by The Jed Foundation that assists schools in evaluating and strengthening their mental health, substance misuse, and suicide prevention programs. By working with JED, Mercy University has been assessing its current programs to identify strengths and address gaps.

The Mercy RISE initiative will integrate with the University’s Counseling Center, CARE Team, Student Health Office, and Office of Accessibility to establish a robust suicide prevention framework. The program outlines four primary goals:

• Strengthen institutional capacity for suicide prevention.
• Improve early identification and referral of students experiencing behavioral health concerns.
• Increase help-seeking behaviors and awareness of available services.
• Establish sustainable policies, partnerships, and prevention infrastructure that extend beyond the grant period.

This comprehensive strategy involves collaborations with key partners such as JED Campus, BetterMynd, Lavender Psychiatry, the Behavioral Health College Partnership, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, NAMI OF WESTCHESTER, and the Jordan Porco Foundation, alongside other regional behavioral health providers. These partnerships will facilitate training for faculty, staff, student leaders, and students to recognize warning signs and connect peers to help. The initiative also plans to conduct annual behavioral health needs assessments, voluntary screenings, integrated crisis response, prevention programming, outreach, and stigma reduction, as well as implement strategies to reduce access to lethal means.

The Broader Impact: Fostering Resilient Learning Environments

The implications of this grant extend beyond the immediate services offered. By investing in a comprehensive, campus-wide approach to mental health, Mercy University aims to cultivate a more supportive and resilient learning environment. For students, this means increased access to vital resources and a culture that prioritizes their emotional and psychological well-being. For parents, it offers reassurance that their children are attending an institution that actively addresses critical health concerns.

Educators, too, play a crucial role in supporting student mental health. Recognizing the signs of distress and knowing how to guide students to appropriate resources can make a significant difference. Resources like COSMIQ, a free voice-driven AI tutor, can also provide a low-stress, accessible learning support system, helping to alleviate academic pressures that can sometimes contribute to student stress. For those preparing for college-level work or specific exams, using tools from the exam prep directory can offer a structured way to build confidence and reduce anxiety related to academic performance.

Ultimately, initiatives like Mercy RISE contribute to a broader movement in higher education to destigmatize mental health challenges and integrate mental health support as a fundamental component of the student experience. This proactive stance is essential for fostering environments where students can thrive academically and personally.

Looking Ahead

The $500,000 federal grant is a testament to Mercy University's commitment to its students' holistic well-being. By expanding and strengthening its mental health and suicide prevention initiatives, the university is not only addressing an immediate need but also building a sustainable framework for long-term student support. This investment reflects a growing understanding that academic success and personal growth are deeply intertwined with mental health, paving the way for a healthier, more resilient student population.

The views, policies, and opinions expressed regarding Mercy RISE are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of SAMHSA or HHS, as the initiative was developed in part under a grant from these federal agencies.