CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) is getting a boost in its efforts to support mental wellness among students.
A $300,000 grant will improve counseling services, supporting the roughly 1,000 students at the historically black university.
Tierra Parsons is the director of counseling services at JCSU. She said the Garrett Lee Smith Suicide Prevention Awareness grant is likely the first major grant her department has received.
The money will be used to hire a project coordinator, make programming aimed at destigmatizing mental health. It will also fund training, outreach, and support for the wellness of students along with engagement opportunities with community partners.
“Suicide prevention and awareness is important for us to talk about on this campus because we want our students to be well," Parsons said. “We want to make sure that our students know that whatever they go through in life, that we're here to support them and to extend resources that can help them along their way in college."
The grant comes as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) looks to prevent suicide at colleges and universities by building infrastructure to help students.
Tyneijah Williams, a graduate student at JCSU studying social work, said the investment makes her feel empowered to help people on campus and beyond.
"A lot of people, especially in our African American community, feel like seeking help is a bad thing," Williams said. "So, hopefully us getting this grant will bring more awareness to the community that yes, we as college students do, deal with mental health issues and hopefully, that will make people want to help out more and, you know, just have those uncomfortable conversations.”
The university hopes to begin implementing additional services this month.