SUNY Jamestown Community College’s Success Centers have been awarded a $100,000 State University of New York Mental Health Grant for the third consecutive year to support student mental health and wellness.
The grant supports efforts to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health, increase access to mental health services, and provide programs and events that promote the overall well-being of JCC students.
“Student mental health continues to be an important part of student success, and this funding allows us to provide meaningful support in ways that meet students where they are,” said Morgan Franchina, JCC Success Centers director. “Whether a student needs access to professional counseling or simply wants to take part in an activity that helps them relax and connect with others, we want them to know that their well-being matters.”
During the past year, JCC used grant funding to expand access to free mental health services through BetterMynd, a teletherapy platform available at no cost to all JCC students, including those attending the Jamestown or Cattaraugus County campuses and those enrolled fully online.
BetterMynd connects students with licensed mental health providers in all 50 states. Students can search for providers based on preferences such as gender, religion, language, and area of specialization.
“The response to BetterMynd has shown us how valuable it is to remove barriers to mental health care,” Franchina said. “Students can access support from wherever they are, at no cost, and they can choose a provider who fits their needs. That accessibility is incredibly important.”
Grant funding also supported a variety of mental health and wellness activities throughout the year, including visits from motivational speaker Danielle Green at both campuses, goat yoga, wellness kit-making events, and residence life programming developed in partnership with JCC resident assistants.
With the grant renewed for another year, the Success Centers plan to build on those efforts. A portion of the new grant funding will be used to extend JCC’s BetterMynd contract for an additional three years.
The remaining funding will support additional mental health and wellness programming throughout the academic year. The Success Centers, Franchina said, are thrilled to bring back popular student events while also introducing new opportunities focused on mental health, wellness and connection.
“Some of the most successful programs are the ones that give students a chance to take a break, have some fun, and connect with other people,” Franchina said. “We’re excited to continue offering those opportunities while looking for new ways to support our students.”