Social Connectedness and Help-Seeking Behavior Subcommittee
On this page:
- About the Social Connectedness and Help-Seeking Behavior Subcommittee
- Objective 3: Promote social connectedness
- Objective 4: Increase help-seeking behavior
- Subcommittee Leads
About the Social Connectedness and Help-Seeking Behavior Subcommittee
This Subcommittee is responsible for addressing two of JED's strategic priorities: promoting social connectedness and increasing help-seeking behavior. By promoting social connectedness, Wright State will increase mental health protective factors of connection and community, while decreasing risk factors of isolation and loneliness. In addition, this subcommittee will implement a variety of activities to increase knowledge of campus resources, reduce stigma surrounding mental health treatment, and increase the likelihood that someone will seek services for mental health or substance use.
handshake-simple Objective 3: Promote social connectedness
| Objective | Progress | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 3.1 Establish defined spaces in student unions and/or other public areas for student groups to meet | Spring 2024: Wright State has great physical space for students to connect and socialize in, including the Culture and Identity Centers, Campus Recreation, the Hangar, the Library, and others across campus. | circle-check Complete |
| 3.2 Develop Peer Mentoring Programs | Spring 2024: Wright State University’s Mental Health Peer Mentor Program began its pilot phase in Spring Semester 2024, with a total of 45 peer mentors trained by April 30, 2024. The Peer Mentor Program will enter its second phase in Summer 2024, with thanks to funding from the Ohio Department of Higher Education. | circle-half-stroke In Progress |
| 3.3 Offer or enhance programs, activities, and campaigns that promote connections to community-based, cultural, religious, or national groups. | Spring 2024: Wright State University offers numerous student-organizations for students to find connections with others sharing their culture, community, religious or ethnic backgrounds, which includes the Amigos Latinos Student Association, Black Student Union, Muslim Student Association, Nepalese Student Association, among many others. | circle-half-stroke In Progress |
| 3.4 Offer or enhance programs, activities, and campaigns to promote diversity and inclusiveness on campus. | Spring 2024: The Culture & Identity Center provides a safe space for students of varying marginalized identities to find community and connection. The CIC organized several activities and programs throughout the semester, including an International Women’s Day Celebration, Lavender Graduation for LGBTQ+ identifying students, and many more. | circle-half-stroke In Progress |
| 3.5 Develop proactive action steps to help identify disconnected/isolated students | Spring 2024: Currently, Residential staff are trained to provide “Raider to Raider” chats with residential students of concern. These conversations get filed as CARE Reports, so further support can be provided for these students. | circle-half-stroke In Progress |
| 3.6 Develop or enhance programs and activities to promote inclusion of disconnected/isolated students on campus | Spring 2024: The RASE (Raiders on the Autism Spectrum Excelling) Program through the Office of Disability Services works to provide additional support for students whose disability impacts their academic performance. The program connects students with a RASE Coach to assist with many skills including social skill development and resiliency. The Veteran and Military Center is also in process of developing the VETI Program, the Veteran Engagement and Training Initiative to support the social connection of student veterans on campus. | circle-half-stroke In Progress |
| 3.7 Develop hiring practices that promote the recruitment and retention of diverse faculty and staff. | Spring 2024: Current hiring practices are in process of review and revision. | circle-half-stroke In Progress |
handshake-simple Objective 4: Increase help-seeking behavior
| Objective | Progress | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 4.1 Ensure that counseling and health center websites are easily accessible for students. | Spring 2024: Website updated so that Counseling & Wellness Services and Student Health Services homepages are both within 2 clicks of the Wright.edu homepage. | circle-check Complete |
| 4.2 Cross reference/link counseling center, health services, and health education websites. | Spring 2024: Website updates in progress. | circle-half-stroke In Progress |
| 4.3 Implement campaigns/programs to encourage help-seeking by destigmatizing mental health and substance misuse on campus. | Spring 2024: CWS Instagram created and contains regularly posted messaging about mental health, seeking support, and resources on campus. Educational handouts created for students. | circle-half-stroke In Progress |
| 4.4 Utilize online resources from other organizations to enhance wellness messaging. | Spring 2024: CWS continues its partnership with Togetherall, and the website has been updated to include additional external resources including resources from SAMHSA, Mental Health is Health, Mental Health American and the National Alliance for Mental Illness. | circle-half-stroke In Progress |
| 4.5 Develop or enhance peer support programs. | Spring 2024: Task Force members have begun research on some avenues to implement peer support programs. | circle-half-stroke In Progress |
Subcommittee Leads
- Eric Corbitt, Interim Dean of Student Affairs, Director, Student Union and Campus Recreation, Student Affairs, Co-Lead
- Billy Willis, Associate Director, Campus Recreation, Campus Recreation, Co-Lead
