Bring the Jed Foundation to Mercyhurst to Help Improve Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Programs

Good cause.

Thank you Makenzie :) everything you do matters. You’re a great role model and even better friend.

McKenzie, Thank you so much for creating this petition. I've accepted what's happened now and moved on, but I also want to prevent anything like this from happening to others. I would love updateds on your project - my email is [email protected]. Thanks again

I think it would be amazing to become a JED campus. Resources reaching those in need is crucial at this point in our lives.

I support this effort.

Katherine - Not only am I shocked by this comment, I am also disgusted with how you were treated; my heart aches for you. Schools need to start prioritizing students' mental health and work towards greater mental wellbeing and suicide prevention. Clearly, some things need to change. Although I can't change the past, I hope to help prevent things like this from happening again. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or would like updates on this project. Thank you for sharing your story and I wish you all of the best with your future endeavors; I am sure you will do great things.

Thankful that the hospitals in Erie, PA have excellent mental health services.

My only complaint with Mercyhurst is with the counseling center. They are not trained to handle serious mental illnesses, which is unacceptable for any college campus. When I went to the counseling center for anorexia and depression, I gained nothing. After a suicide attempt I was BANNED from campus, only to be escorted back to collect my things. After being cleared by mental health professionals in my hometown, I am still not allowed to attend school there, because of a potential relapse. Mercyhurst, and all other universities, need to make students’ mental health a priority.

Mental health is a crucial tool for young adults to understand while going through a difficult transition like college and entering into the professional world. Students need the resources to learn about mental health so that they can understand their emotions and learn healthy ways to cope with stressors in life!

Hi McKenzie - I'm the director of the JED Campus program at the Jed Foundation. Feel free to reach out to me if you want help strategizing on bringing this to your campus - [email protected].

Hi! Please send me an email at [email protected] for more information. Thanks for the support!

We’d love to work with you!

Thank you! I truly appreciate you sharing this. Student support is extremely important!

This is so important, our university would most definitely benefit from being a JED campus! Sharing this everywhere!!

Good work McKenzie! I remember Professor Hoff talking about the JED Foundation in class.

Yes, we need this! I agree!

SO important!!

I think this is great idea!! In high school I took part in an anti-bully program as well as a group called “SOS” which stands for Sources of Strength which is a Suicide Prevention program that brings suicide awareness to students and teachers in high schools. I hope this takes off here at Mercyhurst and would love to be a part of this organization!