UA is one of two Ohio colleges to receive the JedCampus seal

In recognition of its efforts to support students, The University of Akron is one of only two colleges in the state to receive the JedCampus seal. The award is given to schools across the nation that exhibit comprehensive mental health promotion and suicide prevention programming.

Launched just this year by The Jed Foundation, the JedCampus seal is awarded based upon evaluation of a school's survey responses against the foundation's recommended practices in mental health programming. Joining UA in receiving the honor was The Ohio State University.

"The seal says we are doing good work, and encourages us to continue to promote programs that support the mental health of our students in a broad, systemic way," says Dr. Juanita Martin, a psychologist and executive director of UA's Counseling Center.

The center provides a wide range of comprehensive, free services to enrolled students — including individual counseling, academic performance help, wellness education, stress reduction and programs targeted to specific issues.

In addition to UA's Counseling Center, a number of other offices and services are available on campus to support mental health awareness, including the UA CARE Team and the Office of Accessibility. Crisis Intervention Training has been given to members of University Police, and Department of Athletics personnel has undergone suicide prevention training provided by the Counseling Center. In the spring, the center will launch a new online program available from Kognito Interactive that will provide up to 75 faculty and staff with the necessary training to recognize distress in students, offer comfort and refer those students for help.

"Receiving the JedCampus seal says that, as a campus, we are functioning well at providing needed services," notes Martin. "Going forward, it encourages us to look at mental health awareness in a systemic way — to be welcoming, to intervene in instances of distress, and to provide a physically safe environment."

Phil and Donna Satow founded The Jed Foundation in 2000, following the loss of their college-age son, Jed, to suicide. The organization works in collaboration with the Suicide Prevention Resource Center to provide information to colleges across the country.

To learn more about UA resources, visit the Counseling Center online.