‘Strong Start’ to Raise Mental Health, Suicide Prevention Awareness

The new wellness and health promotion coordinator at SUNY Plattsburgh wants to bring mental health and suicide prevention awareness to the forefront, creating a sense of belonging for students for a strong start to the school year.

“We want them to know: We hear you; we see you; we are here for you,” Heather Bennett said. She and a committee of stakeholders from the Division of Enrollment and Student are hosting “Strong Start,” a day of activities planned around that awareness because mental health is health, Tuesday, Sept. 10 from 2 to 4 p.m. in the bottom level of Memorial Hall.

“The name, ‘Strong Start,’ was suggested in the hopes that students are starting the semester off strong. We’re letting them know that we are here to support them,” Bennett said.

Some of that support will come on Sept. 10 in the form of activities and participation by people who can help students — through resources offered both on and off campus for them or anyone they might know who are struggling, she said.

Message of Positivity

“We want to create a message of positivity, where students can learn about themselves, about other people, all in positive ways,” Bennett said. “There will be fun, engaging activities, information, a place where students can feel safe, learn something about themselves and learn something about other people.”

Sept. 10 was chosen in part because it is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Day, but through her office and the university’s Wellness Consortium, they will focus on Dr. Peggy Swarbrick’s eight dimensions — or areas — of wellness.

“’Strong Start’ is just our kickoff, but it’s also a wonderful collaboration,” she said. “I’ve been meeting with people since I started in June — there are a lot of amazing programs already happening on campus. Rather than creating a whole lot more, we’re taking what we have and hitting each area of wellness.”

Eight Areas of Wellness

Swarbrick, associate director of the Center of Alcohol and Substance Use Studies at Rutgers University, created a list of areas that affect wellness —the physical, intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual, vocational, financial and environmental. Through “Strong Start,” Bennett plans to touch on three areas — the emotional, physical and social, she said. Throughout the year, she hopes to create programming that can weave other areas into the of students’ overall wellbeing.

Working with Bennett on "Strong Start" are:

• Marco Ayala-Perez, financial operations manager in the Student Health and Counseling Center
• Brooke Davis, community director, Campus Housing and Community Living
• Mike Howard, director of athletics
• Shatawndra Lister, director of access and opportunity programs
• Sarah Mccarty, student activities assistant, Center for Student Involvement
• Teddy Steinhorst, community director, Campus Housing and Community Living

For more information on “Strong Start” programming and wellness and health promotion, contact Bennett at 518-564-2247 or email [email protected].

— Story, Photo by Associate Director of Communications Gerianne Downs