March 04, 2021
La Roche University to Expand Mental Health Services
PITTSBURGH, Mar. 4, 2021 – La Roche University will partner with the JED Foundation, a nationally recognized nonprofit, to improve campus mental health resources.
JED Campus, a signature program of The JED Foundation, offers schools customized support to help build upon existing student mental health, substance use and suicide prevention efforts. La Roche’s four-year partnership with JED Campus will focus on enhancing and expanding mental health services to the whole campus community.
“Our partnership will help guide us to the next level in addressing our students’ emotional well-being on all fronts. JED’s campus-wide approach will engage all of our offices, programs and services to coordinate and combine efforts that will result in a strong mental health safety net for students,” Lori Arend, director of Counseling & Health Services, said.
La Roche is committed to meeting students’ mental health needs through positive, systemic change within the campus community. Students can receive counseling free of charge from two full-time therapists on staff.
The University also plans to connect students with a local psychiatrist on campus at no cost.
“Our current pandemic culture has highlighted an issue that we know has been coming for many years. Areas of higher education need to do more for students when it comes to meeting their mental health needs,” Ms. Arend said.
Mental health conditions are disproportionately affecting specific populations, especially young adults, according to a study reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2020. This group aged 18-24 years who reported having seriously considered suicide is 25 percent higher than in other groups. Preparing support systems to mitigate mental health consequences will continue to be needed urgently.
JED Campus protects emotional health and prevents suicide for teens and young adults across the nation. The organization partners with high schools and colleges to strengthen mental health, substance misuse, and suicide prevention programs and systems. JED also equips teens and young adults with the skills and knowledge to help themselves and each other.
About La Roche University: A private liberal arts university in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, La Roche University offers 66 undergraduate programs of study, six master’s degrees and one doctoral degree, with particular strengths in education, business, criminal justice, psychology, and health and medical sciences as well as interior design and graphic design. This residential university provides a vibrant campus community for nearly 1,300 men and women enjoying 30-plus student organizations and an exciting NCAA Div. III athletics program. Founded by the Sisters of Divine Providence in 1963, La Roche University embraces its Catholic heritage while welcoming people of all faiths and backgrounds. With a legacy of social justice and a commitment to international exchange, La Roche University educates students to be lifelong learners and achievers in an increasingly diverse and global society.
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