Gordon State College Receives Grant To Focus on Mental Health Needs of Students

Friday, March 12, 2021

Gordon State College recently received a grant as part of the University System of Georgia’s Mental Health Initiative (MHI), which is supported by the University System of Georgia (USG) through the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) fund.

This grant focuses primarily on the comprehensive mental health needs of students across the state as they continue their collegiate journeys while navigating a global pandemic.

Gordon State will utilize the grant of $36,260 to enhance mental health training for faculty and staff across its campus and increase programming related to mental health and healthy mindsets.

In addition, the college will purchase technology to support students, including acquiring software to improve operations in the Student Health Center.

The grant program is one of three components of the USG’s comprehensive MHI program.

Gordon State’s Counseling Center has partnered with Christie Campus Health to launch Highlander Help, which Gordon State students will now be able to access and includes the following features:

• A mental health line for in-the-moment support and links to next steps, regardless of time of day or your location;
• No cost counseling sessions provided by a diverse network of licensed mental health clinicians ;
• Virtual psychiatric clinics to offer assessment and medication management;
• Personal Student Navigators to assist with referral coordination and support;
• A self-directed Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (iCBT) program designed exclusively for students;
• “The Wellness Hub,” which includes an app and an online wellness magazine with educational content, self-help tools and resource links.

The third component of the MHI program is the college’s work with the Jed Foundation, which is a national non-profit organization that protects emotional health and works with high schools and colleges to strengthen their mental health, substance misuse and suicide prevention programs and systems.

Through GSC’s work with the Jed Foundation, the college seeks to strategically strengthen and improve services and programs that support each student’s mental health.

For more information about Gordon State’s Mental Health Initiative programs and services, contact the Counseling and Accessibility Services at 678-359-5585.