Editor’s note: This article contains references to suicide and may be triggering to some readers. 

After conducting a study on students’ mental health, BW officials say that starting next semester they will have a plan in place to work with mental health charity The Jed Foundation and Active Minds to distribute more resources to students. 

The University sent students an online survey called The Healthy Minds Study over email multiple weeks ago. So far, the University has not released the results of the survey. Timothy Hall, a clinical counselor and assistant director of outreach and prevention for the BW Counseling Center, said the data will be released by summer.  

“Certainly, there are increasing mental health concerns around campus,” Hall said of data found in the survey. 

The Jed Foundation is a non-profit that provides help for people suffering with their mental and emotional health, with the aim of protecting emotional health and preventing suicide. The organization focuses on teens and young adults and is partnered with several schools nationwide and states that these partnerships have reached 4.8 million students. BW is opting for an 18-month subscription to the service. The Foundation is a non-profit which helps schools work towards a better mental stanza within mental health numbers.  

Additionally, the Counseling Center is working with student-led mental health advocacy group Active Minds on campus. Students may have encountered Active Minds around campus for multiple initiatives including their suicide awareness event in October. Hall said that Active Minds members will have an active role in the new partnership with The Jed Foundation. 

“This Jed team we formed has students from the Active Minds chapter in it to give us a better approach,” Hall said. 

The increased initiatives are being announced near the one-year anniversary of the death 21-year-old psychology major Jennifer Parsons by suicide. According to her obituary found on the Shaw – Davis Funeral Home website, Parsons was a member of the Honors Psych Club, a First-Year Mentor, and a cheerleader.  

“She loved BW!” the obituary read. 

Hall said it is important for students to know what resources are available to them and that they are not alone. He said the Counseling Center takes steps to protect students’ privacy and that students should not feel shame or guilt when reaching out for help.  

“Privacy is a good thing but shame and guilt is not,” Hall said. “We are doing things to make sure shame and guilt is not hidden.”  

Hall also said that Baldwin Wallace is working with the Center for Inclusion, drafting new policies around campus, and planning to make resources more accessible to students.   

Jacket Care, a telehealth platform that is offered to all BW students free of charge, is also available. Any BW student can access the platform year-round and at any time of day.   

Students can find more information on the service and schedule appointments at www.timely.md/faq/jacketcare. 

Currently, the University has no plans to make online scheduling available for counseling sessions through The Jed Foundation.  

“Due to communication issues, we are staying with phone appointments to avoid conflict within schedule, but Jacket Care 24/7 offers online appointments with licensed counselors,” Hall said. “Any time of day.”  

Hall said that faculty and staff know that college can be mentally draining and normal for students to be stressed during this time. First-year Mollie Garfield told The Exponent of the impact her studies have on her mental health 

“College greatly impacts my mental health; it peaks my anxiety when I have so much homework to do,” Garfield said. “Some days I go to class, and I know I have so much homework to do but I get so drained from interacting with so many people.”  

Matthias Andujar, a sophomore and employee at 88.3 FM The Sting radio station, said that his mental health has also negatively affected his mental health. 

“I always find myself busy with schoolwork along with my job and other groups that I am part of,” Andujar said. “It’s an uphill battle trying to balance everything but the occasional times where it comes together is what makes it worth it.”  

If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health of suicidal thoughts, the BW Counseling Center can be reached by phone at (440) 826-2180 or online at 

www.bw.edu/about/offices/counseling. 24/7 crisis counseling is available by calling (440) 260-4399. Round-the-clock support is also available nationally through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Veterans Crisis Line and Military Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255, and the Crisis Text Line by texting “hello” to 741741.