State cuts University mental health grant from budget

By Dylan Pichnarcik 

Associate Editor

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts did not renew the State Behavioral and Mental Health grant given to the University by the Department of Higher Education (DHE) during the last two fiscal years, according to Glenn Cochran, assistant vice president of Student Affairs.

The University received approximately $280,000 each of the two fiscal years, Cochran said. 

Cochran said he, along with Vice President of Student Affairs Meg Nowak Borrego, Counseling Center Director Benjamin Day, and a representative from the University’s Grant Office, applied for the grant in past years. 

This year, the University was not given the opportunity to reapply for the grant as it was cut from the Commonwealth’s budget, according to Cochran. 

Niemi said while “the state has been generous in many ways with higher education,” the reason for the budget cut is “inexplicable,” but she said she believes it may be because of federal actions.

Niemi said it’s “hard to understand them because we're talking about students' mental health and well-being.”

According to Niemi, the University will use funds from the $1.3 million Supporting Urgent Community College Equity through Student Services (SUCCESS) grant awarded to FSU in December of 2024 to fund the projects started with the mental health grant moving forward. 

Day said losing the funds was unfortunate but not unexpected because state budgets are subject to change year-by-year. 

“Certainly, the Counseling Center [has] never … relied on extra monies to be able to meet the challenges on the University campus,” he said.

Day said a person would find it difficult to find “a group of therapists as well trained and as willing to work with the student and meet them where they are.

“The fact that it's here, it's free, it's unlimited, and that a student can literally start on day one of the first year they're here, until they graduate, and they graduate from a graduate program, and they can still be seen by someone is something that tests - that certifies - that the University believes mental health is paramount on campus, and that mental health counseling is a key component of that,” Day said. 

He added, “Money doesn’t make the program - the therapists make the program. And we have the best therapists anywhere.” 

Most of the allocated funds from the grant went toward education for campus leaders regarding mental health support and first aid, including Residence Life staff, SEALS peer health educators (SEALS), orientation leaders and staff members across campus, according to Cochran.

He said the training included Question, Persuade, Refer practices, a method used for suicide prevention for Residence Life staff members and SEALS.

Additionally, the funds were used to create a new department within the Counseling, Health and Wellness Center, focused on wellness education, substance abuse, and suicide prevention, according to Pam Lehmberg, director of the Wellness Center.  

“The Well” occupies two floors of Foster Hall Annex and is used as an event space for SEALS as well as an office space for two new staff members within the department, according to Lehmberg. 

Funds from the grant also went toward updating Foster Hall Annex to be an office and event space. Previously, it housed an apartment available to faculty and staff, Lehmberg said. 

Kim Charneski, who previously worked in the Counseling Center, now serves as the well-being coordinator for the Wellness Center and Karen Alfaro, a new hire, serves as a prevention coordinator.

Funds from the grant were also used to purchase a subscription to Togetherall - a peer-to-peer anonymous mental health resource website, according to Lehmberg. 

“Certainly, we always want to promote counseling in our Health Center, but there are some students who don't want to go to counseling. They would prefer an anonymous online platform where they can figure out the community that is going to help them get their resources met,” Lehmberg said. 

She added the platform allows students to make an appointment with the on-campus Counseling Center should they choose, “but you could also do self assessments or well-being challenges or talk with people who have the same issue that you have right now.” 

Lehmberg said the University is trying out Togetherall this year. 

According to its website, Togetherall is a “peer-to-peer mental health support community which is available online, 24/7, and is completely anonymous so you can express yourself freely and openly. Licensed and registered mental health practitioners, called Wall Guides, monitor the community to ensure the safety and anonymity of all members.” 

According to Cochran, the University received money from the Commonwealth late in the fiscal year and used the funds to reimburse departments on campus. 

“There are some things we did as direct expenditures and some things we reclassified, expenditures from other departments that qualified. …  We got the money late. They told us … ‘If you've already spent money on things going back to July 1, that qualifies. You can reimburse yourself to those,’” Cochran said. 

Along with training members of the Residence Life staff, the resident rejuvenation rooms - located in each residence hall, were funded through the grant in previous years, according to Stephanie Crane, director of Residence Life.

Each residence hall has a designated room which holds a full-body massage chair, daylight lamps, puzzles, and games which residents can utilize at any point, according to Crane. 

Students can sign out the key to the room from the student desk attendant at the front entrance of each building. 

Senior Lauren Martinek said they believe the Counseling, Health and Wellness Center has a “great program.” 

They added providing resources related to substance abuse prevention is important because substance abuse is “going to be everywhere. People need to know how to either prevent substance abuse or at least do it safely.” 

Senior Willmani Castillo said he has had positive experiences visiting the Counseling, Health and Wellness Center. 

He said expanding the resources within the center is “a pretty good direction to go in.”  

Junior Paige Rainville said they visit the Counseling Center weekly. 

Rainville said they “love” that the Counseling, Health and Wellness Center is expanding its support systems for students. 

Rainville said they are trained in mental health first aid and suicide prevention and she appreciates that other students are being trained as well.

Senior Lexi Carlucci said she believes the Counseling, Health and Wellness Center is “amazing.”  

Freshman Isaac Solano said he believes providing substance abuse support is important because “people are going to be experimenting.” 

Solano added having people on campus at the Counseling, Health and Wellness Center who can assist someone who is struggling with substance abuse is positive.  

Sophomore Ana Julia Ribeiro said she has had past experiences with counseling and believes “if you take care of your mind … everything else will fall into place. 

She said the Counseling Center brings her “great joy.” 

Ribeiro added, “As students, we can support each other and we can do great things.”