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Coalition on Student Mental Health
Two students walking across the University of Rochester campus past blooming cherry trees

University of Rochester

Coalition on Student Mental Health and Wellness

Working together to make student mental health and wellness ever better

Improving student well-being

The University Coalition on Student Mental Health and Wellness is working to assess and support student mental health at Rochester.

Formed in 2021 by President Mangelsdorf and Dean of Graduate Education Melissa Sturge-Apple, the group has University-wide representation, including undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff.

The group’s work includes assessing the current state of student mental health on campuses, and making recommendations for how the Rochester community can work to improve student well-being.

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Meet the coalition

The members of the University Coalition on Student Mental Health and Wellness span multiple schools and disciplines, and include students, faculty, and staff.

Coalition members
  • Brigid Cahill, Director, University Counseling Center
  • Annabel Fu, Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry
  • Alexandra Goldstein, graduate student, Simon Business School
  • Anika Johnson, Director, Equity and Inclusion, Warner School of Education
  • Kaitlin Legg, Associate Director, CARE Network, Office of the Dean of Students
  • Susan McDaniel (chair), Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Family Medicine
  • Amy McDonald, Associate Director of Health Promotion, University Health Service
  • Tysherra Ohikhuare, undergraduate student, Arts, Sciences & Engineering
  • Col Raimond, LGBTQ Coordinator, Paul J. Burgett Intercultural Center
  • Jeff Runner, Dean of the College in Arts, Sciences & Engineering
  • Melissa Sturge-Apple, University Dean of Graduate Education

Coalition areas of focus

Explore the drop-downs for more details on the topics and tasks that the coalition and its subcommittees will be focusing on.

Assessment Subcommittee
  • List the current program offerings and support systems in place within each school of the University.
  • Collect the results from previous mental health / wellness surveys conducted within each school of the University. Document implementation timeline for any future surveys.
  • Through community forums, assess current conditions (at all levels of the sociological model) which help, hinder, or create barriers to access of student mental health support and overall student well-being.
  • Develop recommendations which outline an appropriate strategy to collect ongoing data, both qualitative and quantitative, of our diverse campus populations across schools.
  • Report recommendations to the Coalition.

The Assessment Subcommittee co-chairs are Anika Simone Johnson from the Warner School of Education and Amy McDonald from the UHS Health Promotion Office.

Contact us if you have any questions, ideas, or feedback.

Benchmarking Subcommittee

The Benchmarking Subcommittee will collect data on prevention and mental health supports offered by a variety of colleges and universities, broadly targeting COFHE and AAU institutions while also identifying peer institutions for our various University of Rochester schools. In addition, the Benchmarking Subcommittee will provide a summary of their findings.

The Benchmarking Subcommittee co-chairs are Brigid Cahill from the University Counseling Center and Col Raimond from the Paul J. Burgett Intercultural Center.

Contact us if you have any questions, ideas, or feedback.

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Share your thoughts and feedback

We’re eager to hear from the University community. Use our feedback form to offer thoughts, ideas, and suggestions for our path forward.

Send us your ideas and questions

Get help now

Explore more mental health resources

The University has health and wellness services ready to help. Visit the University Health Service website to explore some of these offerings, including the Counseling Center and the Health Promotion Office. Faculty and staff can find additional support services on the Human Resources website.

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