CMU earns national award for commitment to mental health

Central Michigan University’s commitment to supporting the mental health of students, faculty and staff is being nationally recognized by Insight Into Academia magazine. CMU is one of just 70 colleges and universities in the U.S. earning the 2025 Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being Award.

The recognition highlights CMU’s commitment to campus-wide integration of mental health initiatives, including accessible services, peer support, emotional resilience, and proactive policy.

Executive Director of Counseling Services Melissa Hutchinson nominated CMU for the award based on the increased emphasis on mental health support for students.

“We are talking about supporting each other and investing in supporting each other. Our work feels purposeful and meaningful, and it matters. And it's making a difference,” Hutchinson said.  “When you receive something like this, it's because the culmination of all of those efforts is coming together and making a noticeable difference.”

CMU Cares

The CMU CARES program, administered by University Engagement and Student Affairs, provides students with helpful information and support navigating campus and community resources to support their well-being and success.

CMU CARES receives referrals from anyone concerned about a CMU student, for any reason. Licensed mental health professionals in residence halls, called “Care Advocates,” then reach out to students proactively to help them mitigate issues and connect to resources before they become a crisis and disrupt their education.

As part of CMU Cares, the CMU Take Care initiative promotes safety, community, growth, and connection to get students who may be struggling back on track as quickly as possible.

The initiative is a result of CMU being awarded the SAMHSA Garrett Lee Smith grant in 2023. This 3-year grant is designed to help institutions evaluate their services, identify gaps, and start initiatives to help address those gaps.

The grant also is pivotal to funding trainings in mental health first aid and “Question, Persuade, Refer” trainings for those in roles that are key to helping students.

All CMU mental health initiatives employ a “recognize, relate, refer” model to ensure students are being listened to.

“In that relate piece, we can all just be good humans. Just listen to somebody. Ask them how they are, and actually listen to how they are,” Hutchinson said. “I think that by using this model, we will create a culture where everybody, whether they come here to live, work, play, or study, is in an environment in which they can thrive.”

Mental Health First Aid

More faculty and staff are being trained in Mental Health First aid to be equipped to offer the support that students need. More than 200 people have completed the training in the last year, with more training opportunities in the works.

In May of 2024, CMU’s division of Student Affairs, led by interim Vice President Stan Shingles, set a goal of getting every staff member in the unit trained in Mental Health First Aid. That goal was reached less than a year later, demonstrating a sincere commitment to helping students thrive. It is a commitment that continues under CMU’s new division of University Engagement and Student Affairs, led by Vice President Shawna Patterson-Stephens.

“If we're trying to create a place where people take care of themselves and each other, we need to train them to be able to do that,” Hutchinson said.

Care in a crisis

When a student experiences a mental health crisis, the CMU Counseling Center is equipped to respond, with no delays in offering the care required. It is a point of pride that Hutchinson points out to parents and supporters at new student orientation.

“Knowing that you're far away from your student, we're trying to send the message that we’ve got them,” Hutchinson said. “We know this is the most important thing to you, and rest assured, we have systems in place to help recognize students in need as soon as possible.”

Additionally, students have access to a 24/7 crisis line that is available on evenings, weekends and when the university is closed. Even traveling students who experience a crisis can call and receive help.

CMU Counseling Center is ready

For students who would benefit from one-on-one counseling, the CMU Counseling Center is a key resource, offering comprehensive support with a well-staffed team.

A student’s interaction with the Counseling Center may begin with a new anonymous screening tool that allows them to take a temperature check of their mental health. Based on their results, the screening tool will give recommendations on what next steps should be considered.

Students also can connect with counseling center services by calling 989-774-3381, or submitting an appointment request on their website.

In a proactive approach, counseling staff also are embedded throughout campus to offer specialized support, including in the Center for Student Inclusion and Diversity, Athletics and services for survivors of sexual aggression.

The Counseling Center is collaborating with the Office of Student Success on a program to help students get ahead of stress in college and understand how stress can impact their sense of connectedness to the university, their peers and their performance in the classroom.

“All of our outreach is really about is reducing stigma, reducing barriers, encouraging help seeking and meeting counselors outside of the counseling center,” Hutchinson said.

Ongoing commitment to well-being

CMU’s high level of commitment to mental health support and well-being, recognized by Insight Into Academia, is a result of university leaders recognizing the shifting needs of students and providing the resources to meet the challenge; a level of support that Hutchinson says will result in improved health for current and future students.

“CMU is proud of the meaningful progress being made through collaborative, campus-wide efforts. We have sparked a cultural shift toward well-being that now engages faculty, staff and students alike.”