Addressing students’ mental health needs has long been a priority for colleges. Now, the State University of New York is putting new money behind that work, funding training to strengthen immediate support for students on campus.
Being a college student is rarely one‑size‑fits‑all. Many juggle classes, jobs and family responsibilities, and more are willing to say when they need help.
“We are not past generations,” said Hudson Valley Community College student Caris Kraty. “We can say, I need help and that’s OK. So I think the conversation is moving in the right direction.”
Campuses still rely on counseling and wellness centers, but they are also creating everyday spaces where students can pause and reset.
“Sometimes, you’re not just a student. You’re a student with a job. You’re a student with a kid,” Kraty said. “We have these massage chairs everywhere on campus as well as nap pods, because we understand that sometimes mental health is taking a break.”
SUNY is now taking wellness a step further, awarding grants of up to $8,000 to 22 campuses across upstate New York, including HVCC, to implement Mental Health First Aid, an evidence‑based training program by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing meant to strengthen support for student well‑being.
“These services will combat those issues, as well as help students take that step and just destigmatize mental health,” Kraty said.
Sara Donnelly, interim director of counseling services at Hudson Valley, said the approach “promotes overall student wellness, for them to feel comfortable and confident in getting the help that they need to be successful.”
The eight‑hour Mental Health First Aid course teaches participants how to recognize signs of distress, ask directly about suicide or self‑harm, listen without judgment, and connect students to professional or self‑help resources.
In a statement, SUNY Chancellor John King said, in part, that “mental health is health,” and that the grants will help ensure more SUNY staff and personnel are trained to recognize and address mental health concerns and support students in need. Alongside trainings like this, many SUNY campuses have also opened food pantries and expanded emergency aid to help students meet basic needs while they work toward their degrees.