News Fresh Check Day: Hartwick Promotes Mental Health & Wellness

Hartwick College joins colleges and universities across the country in an important campaign to raise awareness of and take action toward mental health and suicide prevention. Celebrating Fresh Check Day on September 10, this College community will provide students with tools and information to support their mental well-being. The initiative is part of a national program designed by the Jordan Porco Foundation, which seeks to “create an approachable and hopeful atmosphere where students are encouraged to engage in dialogue about mental health, and help build a bridge between students and the mental health resources available on campus, in the community, and nationally,” per its website.

Hartwick’s Expo-style, student-centered event will feature important, accessible information offered by peers in a relaxed and positive setting. The event is designed to increase student awareness of mental health resources available to them; reduce the stigmas and misconceptions around mental illness and suicide that can deter seeking help; empower peers by increasing their understanding of warning signs; and increase students’ willingness to ask for help if experiencing emotional distress. The entire campus community is invited to participate in Fresh Check Day. There will be food, entertainment, and prizes for students.

“We know that healthy students learn better, miss fewer classes, and tend to drop-out less than unhealthy students,” said Director of Wellness and Health Promotion Heidi Tanner. “College can be an overwhelming experience for some students and the pressures of daily college life can activate a new mental health concern, and/or exacerbate an existing one. We are hosting Fresh Check Day as part of our efforts to support holistic student success.”

Such a campus-wide focus on student success and well-being is a pillar of FlightPath, Hartwick’s expansive approach to an Education for Tomorrow, personal growth, and readiness for their future.