HEPC Supports Campus Mental Health With Grants

West Virginia’s public colleges and universities are getting help to address the mental health needs of students. 

Sept. 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day and in observance, the Higher Education Policy Commission is distributing more than $70,000 in Campus Mental Health Grants to nine institutions across the state.

The individual grants range from more than $6,000 to $12,000 dollars for campus programs including mental health screenings and substance-free activities to promote community on campus.

Most of the grant recipients are community and technical colleges.

• Mountwest Community and Technical College
  Mountwest will introduce preventative measures, including skill training, mental health screenings, and reducing access to lethal means, aimed at providing early support for student mental health and mitigating worsening symptoms.

• Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College
  Southern will implement a comprehensive mental health screening tool across its campuses in five counties, addressing mental health challenges exacerbated by socioeconomic factors. The tool will help identify mental health issues early, promoting academic success and mental health resilience.

• Eastern Community and Technical College
  The Mindfulness in Motion: Mending Minds Together project will conduct routine mental health screenings and use student feedback to set mindfulness priorities. The initiative will foster a supportive campus environment with activities focused on mental health, addiction recovery, and suicide prevention.

• BridgeValley Community and Technical College
  The Nourishment for Nursing program will provide nursing students with tools to boost both academic performance and mental wellness, expanding on its success with retention rates. Additionally, a new Paramedic Pause Curriculum will offer mental health resources for paramedic students.

• Pierpont Community and Technical College
  The Stress Less for Success Wellness Program will address non-academic personal barriers to student success, featuring life skills workshops and mindfulness activities aimed at decreasing student dropout rates.

West Virginia University, Concord University, and West Virginia State University are the only four year institutions receiving grants.

• West Virginia State University
  The Resilient STATE of Mind program provides innovative, community-led solutions to promote resilience in young adults aged 18-24 to advance mental health and well-being and reduce the risk for negative mental health outcomes. This project will provide bi-weekly educational meetings focused on self-esteem, mindfulness, social skills, and coping mechanisms.

• West Virginia University
  WVU’s Collegiate Recovery Program will combat student loneliness by expanding substance-free activities that foster peer connections. The grant will support increased capacity for these programs, helping to create a campus culture that reduces stigma and encourages belonging.

• Concord University
  Concord Connect: Building Belonging will cultivate community and inclusion through mentorship, activities, and support networks, ensuring students feel valued and connected to their university.

• West Virginia State University & BridgeValley Community and Technical College
  In collaboration, WVSU Counseling and Wellness Services will host a one-day Suicide Prevention Conference in Spring 2025. The event will bring together mental health professionals, educators, and students to discuss innovative suicide prevention strategies and foster collaboration across institutions.

These projects are awarded by the commission’s Health Sciences Division, which, among other initiatives, works to improve student mental health, wellness, and safety. 

“Supporting the mental health and well-being of our students is critical to ensuring their academic success and overall development,” Sarah Armstrong Tucker, West Virginia’s chancellor of Higher Education said in a press release. “These grants are an important step in addressing the unique mental health challenges that many of our students face. We are proud to support these innovative programs and to work with our colleges and universities to create safer, more supportive environments for all students.”