JED Campus
Mercy University and JED Campus: Building a Stronger Foundation for Student Mental Health
A four-year, campus-wide commitment to mental health, well-being, and lasting change — for students, faculty, and staff.
Our students’ mental health doesn’t exist outside their education. It’s part of it.
Mercy University joined JED Campus in 2025. It’s a nationwide initiative of The Jed Foundation (JED) to strengthen the systems, programs and support that help our entire community thrive. This four-year partnership is grounded in data, guided by experts and built around the specific needs of our students.
“At Mercy University, we are deeply committed to fostering a campus environment where every student feels supported in their mental health and well-being,” said Susan L. Parish, Ph.D., M.S.W., President of Mercy University. “By partnering with The Jed Foundation, we are taking a proactive and strategic approach to ensuring that our students have access to the resources and support they need to thrive. Mental health is essential to academic success, and this collaboration is an important step in strengthening our efforts to create a healthier, more resilient campus community.”
What Is JED Campus?
Learn how JED Campus helps colleges and universities build safer, healthier communities.
JED Campus is a structured, multi-year program of The Jed Foundation, one of the country’s leading mental health advocacy and research organizations. Nearly 500 campuses are currently part of the program, reaching more than six million students across 44 states and the District of Columbia.
The program doesn’t ask schools to start from scratch. It works with what’s already in place.
JED partners with each institution to assess existing mental health, substance misuse and suicide prevention programs. Together, Mercy University and JED will identify what’s working and build a strategic plan to address gaps. At Mercy, that means bringing evidence-based tools into the work our counselors, faculty, staff and student leaders are already doing every day.
“JED Campus helps schools by working with them to evaluate what their college or university is doing to support student emotional health and well-being and find practical ways to augment these efforts in a comprehensive way,” said John MacPhee, Chief Executive Officer of JED. “We believe that the implementation of a campus-wide approach to mental health will lead to safer, healthier communities, and likely greater student retention.”
How the JED Campus Process Works:
The Jed Framework — Key Focus Areas
The JED Campus program is organized around eight areas of focus, each proven to support student mental health and reduce risk. Mercy’s strategic plan with JED addresses all eight — with a deliberate commitment to equitable implementation, meaning these efforts are designed to be inclusive of and responsive to the full diversity of our campus community.
Each one reinforces the others. They’re the building blocks of a campus where people feel seen, supported, and connected, and where getting help is normalized, not stigmatized.
“We are so pleased to be part of the JED Campus family,” said Colleen Powers, Executive Director of Health and Wellness at Mercy University. “I am excited to begin this collaborative work, which will greatly enhance our mental health supports and resources for the benefit of the entire Mercy community.”
The 8 focus areas are:
- Developing Life Skills
- Promoting Social Connectedness
- Identifying Students at Risk
- Increasing Help-Seeking Behavior
- Providing Mental Health and Substance Misuse Services
- Following Crisis Management Procedures
- Restricting Access to Potentially Lethal Means
- Strategic Planning and Equitable Implementation
Resources
Get the support you need.
Whether you’re a student looking for counseling, a faculty member trying to help someone or a staff member who wants to learn more about mental health prevention — these resources are here for you.
Licensed therapists provide confidential, short-term counseling, up to eight sessions per semester. In-person appointments are available 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM on all three campuses (Westchester, Bronx, and Manhattan). All services are free for currently enrolled students.
To make an appointment: email counselingcenter@mercy.edu or call 914-888-5150.
Mercy has partnered with BetterMynd, an online therapy platform built specifically for college students. Services are available seven days a week, including evenings and weekends.
Each enrolled student can access up to 8 short-term therapeutic sessions per academic year through BetterMynd. Email counselingcenter@mercy.edu to get started and be connected with a counselor who’s a good fit for you.
If you’re in a mental health crisis, BetterMynd’s emergency hotline is available 24/7/365: 844-BTR-MYND (844-287-6963)
For non-emergency inquiries: counselingcenter@mercy.edu or 914-888-5150.
Students show up to class, advising appointments and office hours carrying things we can’t always see. The Red Folder initiative helps faculty and staff recognize signs of distress, understand the spectrum of need and know exactly how to respond and refer students to the right resources.
JED Foundation Mental Health Resource Center
A wide-ranging collection of resources covering many areas of mental health need.
Seize the Awkward — How to Talk with a Friend About Mental Health
Questions About JED Campus at Mercy?
For more information about Mercy’s JED Campus partnership or the work of the Task Force, contact Colleen Powers, Executive Director of Health and Wellness at cpowers5@mercy.edu.
JED Task Force Members:
Faculty and Staff:
Dena Whipple — JED Co-Chair
Colleen Powers — JED Co-Chair
Cami Presha-Wendel
Kevin Joyce
Kristen Bowes
Alena Kush
Jack Nicolson
Damien Germino
Shabad Sood
Eldred Sequeira
Yvette Page
Allison Gurdineer
Nan Hyland
Cynthia Walley
Andrew Georges
Matthew Pangburn
Christina Locario
Ebony Tracy
Sara Edwards
JED Student Task Force Members:
Antonio Rivera
Danielle Chavis
Desiree Fuller Montero
Kitt Belliard
Diany Diaz
Marcela Guerrero
Amelia Swiderska