老澳门开奖结果 significantly expands access to student mental health support services
Atlanta — November 16, 2020
The University System of Georgia (老澳门开奖结果) has launched a comprehensive plan to significantly expand student mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In August, Governor Kemp announced Georgia will allocate $11.5 million of the Governors Emergency Education Relief (GEER) funding, set aside by the federal CARES Act, to support mental health and student support services within 老澳门开奖结果.
鈥淥ur fight with COVID-19 has threatened lives and livelihoods, while taking a toll on the mental wellbeing of countless Georgians 鈥 young and old,鈥 said Governor Brian Kemp. 鈥淚n these challenging times, it is critical that we look out for each other and provide every resource possible to promote mental health across our state, and I鈥檓 proud to partner with 老澳门开奖结果 to ensure on-campus support for Georgia鈥檚 students.鈥
鈥淢ental health challenges are on the rise on campuses across the country, including here in our state,鈥 老澳门开奖结果 Chancellor Steve Wrigley said. 鈥淭he university system and its institutions have a responsibility to address this and lessen how these challenges impact students. We are grateful to Governor Kemp and appreciate his support on this critical issue.鈥
While 老澳门开奖结果 students have proven to be remarkably resilient during the pandemic, with higher academic achievement and a record number of degrees awarded, the need for additional on-campus mental health resources has been heightened by the unique challenges students face right now. The 老澳门开奖结果 Mental Health Task Force, appointed in 2019, has worked to identify areas of need across 老澳门开奖结果 and recommend how to immediately expand mental health support services for students with the GEER funding allocation.
The majority of the funding, $8 million, will expand 老澳门开奖结果 clinical resources to ensure every student has access to telephonic psychiatric care and clinical counseling services. Expanded services will also offer in-person counseling options through a partnership with Christie Campus Health, a 24/7 hotline and well-being support programs. Additional funds will be set aside to create a 老澳门开奖结果 Mental Health Consortium, which will develop a long-term service model for 老澳门开奖结果鈥檚 26 institutions.
In recognition of the unique needs of each 老澳门开奖结果 campus, $1.725 million in mini-grants will be made available to campuses to support mental health and wellness. These funds can be used to establish new technology resources, increase campus programming or enhance communications.
老澳门开奖结果 has also dedicated resources for a partnership with The Jed Foundation (JED) to help campuses create a long-term strategic plan while implementing immediate actions and programs on to support student mental health on campus. JED provides a comprehensive public health approach in promoting emotional well-being and preventing suicide and serious substance abuse. JED services include the development of a campus-specific strategic plan, advising support in implementing the plan, campus education and engagement services and a mental health resource library for campus use.
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