Mercy University secures $500,000 grant to expand mental health programs
The four-year federal award aims to improve early identification and treatment access for students across the institution's three campuses.
By Jonathan Hoffmann ·
Mercy University will use a $500,000 federal grant to expand its suicide prevention and mental health services.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) awarded the funds through its Garrett Lee Smith Campus Suicide Prevention Grant Program. This four-year investment supports the Mercy RISE initiative, which focuses on strengthening support systems across the university's three campuses.
Colleen Powers, the executive director of Health and Wellness at Mercy University, stated that the funding allows the institution to build on existing work. She noted that the grant helps develop a comprehensive approach to mental health promotion and student support.
National data underscores the need for such interventions. The 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that 33.2% of young adults aged 18 to 25 experience mental illness, while 9.4% experience serious mental illness. At Mercy University, the 2024-2025 Healthy Minds Study found that 62% of students reported symptoms of at least one major mental health concern. Institutional estimates suggest that 3,000 students with identified needs are currently not receiving treatment.
The university joined the JED Campus initiative in 2025 to evaluate its current programs. Mercy RISE will integrate this assessment work with existing departments, including the Counseling Center, CARE Team, Student Health Office, and the Office of Accessibility. The initiative targets four main goals: strengthening institutional capacity, improving early identification of students in crisis, increasing help-seeking behavior, and creating sustainable policies that outlast the grant period.
To achieve these goals, Mercy University will partner with organizations such as BetterMynd, Lavender Psychiatry, and NAMI of Westchester. These collaborations will involve training faculty, staff, and student leaders to recognize warning signs. The program will also include annual behavioral health needs assessments, voluntary screening, and integrated crisis response strategies.
Additional components of the plan include outreach to reduce stigma and strategies to lower access to lethal means. These efforts are designed to connect peers to help and establish a more robust infrastructure for student well-being.
