Fresh Check Day at Dean College
Updated: Oct 5
Students at Dean College took a break from the pressures of college life on October 1st to focus on mental health during Fresh Check Day, a mental health promotion and suicide prevention program created and managed nationally by the Jordan Porco Foundation in close partnership with the Connecticut Children's Youth Suicide Prevention Center.
ADVERTISEMENT
Fresh Check Day, a nationally recognized event that took place on campus on October 1st, helped to create a welcoming space where staff and students can come together, learn about mental health, build connections, and discover resources that can help support themselves and others. Dean Freshman Molly Colantonio shared, "This event was very inclusive to all students and helped provide multiple resources that I wouldn't have known about if it wasn't for Fresh Check Day."
In the Dr. Paula M. Rooney Student Center there were over 15 interactive booths, run by student organizations, campus departments, and community partners. They covered topics like stigma reduction, coping skills, high-risk populations, suicide warning signs, and specific mental health issues. There was also food, fidgets, music, activities, and even an emotional support dog that students could come visit and connect with.
College can be a very exciting experience, but it can also create stress that affects students' mental health. It's important that the students here at Dean College know that there are resources available for when they need them.
ADVERTISEMENT
