Tomorrow, the University of Florida will kick off a partnership with JED Campus in support of student well-being and mental health. The program is part of a nationwide initiative from The Jed Foundation (JED) designed to help schools evaluate and strengthen their mental health, substance misuse and suicide prevention programs and systems to ensure schools have the strongest possible mental health safety nets.

By joining JED Campus, the University of Florida demonstrates a commitment to the emotional well-being of its students. JED Campuses embark on a multi-year strategic collaboration that not only assesses and enhances the work that is already being done but also helps create positive, lasting, systemic change in the campus community. The program provides schools with a framework for supporting student mental health, as well as assessment tools, feedback reports, a strategic plan, and ongoing support from the JED Campus team.

“In collaboration with The JED Foundation, the University of Florida is engaged in a holistic review of our students’ emotional and mental health needs as well as the many forms students are served, including how UF’s infrastructure contributes to the safety and well-being of our students. My hope is that this endeavor move us forward, in an inclusive and nurturing manner, in fostering our students’ personal and academic growth” said Ernesto Escoto, Counseling and Wellness Center Director

“The college years are the age when many mental health issues first manifest, and it can be a time of significant stress and pressure,” said John MacPhee, Executive Director of JED. “JED Campus helps schools by working with them to survey everything their university is doing to support their students’ emotional health and find practical ways to augment these efforts in a comprehensive way. We believe that the implementation of a campus-wide approach to mental health will lead to safer, healthier communities, and likely greater student retention.”

The University of Florida’s membership in JED Campus begins with establishing an interdisciplinary, campus-wide team to assess, support and implement program, policy, and system improvements and completing a confidential, self-assessment survey on its mental health promotion, substance abuse, and suicide prevention efforts. Upon completion of the assessment, JED Campus clinicians provide schools with a comprehensive feedback report identifying successes and opportunities for enhancements. Over the course of four years, the University of Florida will collaborate with JED to help implement enhancements. All self-assessment responses and feedback reports are confidential.

For more information about UF’s JED Campus designation, visit https://gatorwell.ufsa.ufl.edu/jed-campus/