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Be Well

Student mental health and well-being are an important priority on college campuses across the country. At Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s, we are committed to fostering a campus community where every student has the support, resources and connections they need to thrive.

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Bringing the Be Well initiative to life

Student well-being is a cornerstone of the CSB+SJU experience. Through the Be Well initiative and a partnership with the Jed Foundation, we’re taking a comprehensive, data-driven approach to mental health support — building systems, closing gaps, and fostering a campus culture where every student can thrive.

Learn More About Be Well

2025-2026 Initiatives

  1. Expanding communication efforts to promote shared responsibility for student well-being.
  2. Reviewing life skills and peer support programs to identify gaps and opportunities.
  3. Increasing visibility and accessibility of mental health resources.
  4. Equipping faculty and staff with tools to better identify and support students in need.

2026-2027 Initiatives

1. Strengthen systems for identifying and supporting students of concern

  1. Strengthen the Student Support Team (SST) process for identifying and supporting students
  2. Improve protocols for students returning from leave or hospitalization
  3. Train faculty, staff, and students to identify and support isolated or struggling students

2. Expand mental health and substance‑use education and outreach

  1. Enhance orientation and ongoing programs about policies and support services
  2. Implement culturally relevant health promotion campaigns addressing mental health, substance use, and help‑seeking barriers

3. Improve academic practices that reduce stress and support student wellbeing

  1. Outline and adopt best practices for academic flexibility and proactive stress‑reduction protocols

4. Build stronger peer and community connections

  1. Develop or enhance formal and informal peer‑to‑peer support networks
  2. Increase programs and activities that help disconnected or isolated students build relationships

5. Create supportive physical and social environments on campus

  1. Establish dedicated spaces for student groups to meet and build community

What’s a JED Campus?

The Jed Foundation (JED) is a nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for our nation’s teens and young adults, giving them the skills and support they need to thrive. Its JED Campus program is designed to help schools evaluate and strengthen their mental health, substance misuse and suicide prevention programs.

Currently, nearly 500 campuses are engaged in the JED Campus program, reaching more than 6 million students in 44 states and the District of Columbia.

Learn about JED Foundation
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This is a program that is grounded in public health, it’s not a random, one-off program. Rather, it is very much built on data, assessment and best practices.

Jody Terhaar, Dean of students for Saint Ben’s