Mercer students visited more than a dozen booths in Cruise Plaza on Wednesday for Mercer’s first “Fresh Check Day,” a new initiative sponsored by Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). The event provided a platform for the student body to promote mental health awareness on Mercer’s campus.
Fresh Check Day was created in partnership with the Jordan Porco Foundation, an organization founded in memory of Jordan Porco, who died by suicide during his freshman year of college. His parents wanted to help close the growing gap in the mental health care system, especially for young people, by implementing a program on college campuses across the country.
CAPS Assistant Director Shun Kel organized the event. The inspiration for Fresh Check Day came after speaking with Dean Doug Pearson, vice president and dean of students at the university. Pearson asked him to think of ways to raise awareness of suicide prevention on campus.
“he [Pearson] We wanted it to be meaningful and not just check a box,” Kell said.
Kel researched the evidence-based methods listed by the Suicide Prevention Research Association and came across Fresh Check Day.
“It’s peer-to-peer. People in college want to hear from each other more than someone their father’s age. By giving students the power to get their message across, students in general You start listening more,” Kell said.
At the cruise, student organizations set up interactive booths, handed out materials, prizes, help guides, and suggested ways to incorporate wellness into student life at Mercer.
One of these booths was created by MerServe, a club that works to build and strengthen connections between the Mercer and Macon communities through service projects. At Fresh Check Day, Iquadine Osbourne ’24 was able to share how participating in community service helps with mental health.
“We’re trying to build community,” Osborn said. “Volunteering allows you to meet people and friends and gain a community that will help you get through your four years here.”
The Gallup-Purdue Index report surveyed more than 30,000 U.S. college graduates to understand how higher education institutions help students not only succeed in their careers but also pursue productive lives. I investigated. The report identifies five areas of well-being for college students: purpose, social, economic, community, and physical.
We explained how students’ experiences on campus influence their future work commitments and overall life satisfaction. The study concluded that students who are successful in all five of her areas of well-being are twice as likely to succeed in their careers and personal lives.
Mercer’s Pre-Health Honor Society (MU AED) and Health jobs Students of America (HOSA) also led efforts to spread awareness about wellness by implementing life-sized manipulative games in their booths. MU AED President Arsha Moorthy ’24 said Fresh Check Day allows the organization to provide information to students about the intersection between physical health and mental health. Students were able to interact with the game and learn how different parts of the body are related to mental health.
“We want to promote that mental health and physical health are connected and both are equally important, because it’s something that society frowns upon and doesn’t take seriously,” Moorthy said. Ta.
Mercer University ROTC and At Ease attend a cruise to learn how student veterans who have experienced deployments struggle with mental health, and how colleagues and their families can support and advocate during the transition. Raised awareness about. Mercer University graduate student Nathaniel Barrow ’26 explained how important mental health and student veteran support is.
“What happens to veterans after they leave the military is highly misunderstood. They suffer from issues such as PTSD, major depression, and severe post-traumatic disorientation,” Barrow said. We just want to raise awareness about it and how to help. ”
According to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), 1,100 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 commit suicide in the United States each year, and approximately 24,000 attempt suicide. In 2021, 22% of college students said they had attempted suicide.
If you or someone you know is suffering, consider contacting the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). The new three-digit number 988 is just as easy to remember as 911.
Additionally, there are hotlines specific to certain people.
Trans Lifeline (877-565-8860): Provides peer support and advocacy for the trans community and LGBTQ+ youth.
Physician Support Line (888-409-0141): Provides peer support to medical students and physicians who were at high risk for suicide even before the intense stressors of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kiva Center (508-751-9600): Offers daily online peer support groups
Project LETS (401-400-2905): Provides text support for emergency issues involving involuntary hospitalization.
