Siena Univeristy received a $300,000 three-year grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This funding enabled the development of Project HOPE (Health and Optimism through Prevention and Education) and supported Siena University in becoming a JED Campus, a nationwide initiative aimed at improving student mental health
In 2023, the Project HOPE Task Force was established, bringing together key campus partners to collaborate on Siena’s strategic plan focused on strengthening mental health initiatives and support services across campus. Below is a timeline highlighting major milestones and accomplishments since the initiative began.
Key Milestones
2022
Mental Health Training Initiatives: Siena launched Mental Health First Aid and QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) trainings across campus to enhance mental health literacy among faculty, staff, administrators, and students.
2023
Task Force Collaboration: The Project HOPE Task Force, comprised of campus leaders and partners, convened for the first time.
New Digital Resource: The TAO (Therapy Assistance Online) app by Uplift became freely available to the Siena community, offering accessible mental health support and resources at no cost.
Campus-Wide Survey: The Healthy Minds Survey was launched to gather important data related to student mental health and well-being.
Strategic Planning with JED: In November, representatives from the JED Foundation visited Siena to assist the Project HOPE Task Force in developing a comprehensive, multi-year strategic plan focused on mental health and wellness initiatives.
Men’s Mental Health Committee – manKIND: A student-led committee was formed to address men’s mental health challenges and develop programming and conversations around wellness on campus.
Training opportunities continued throughout the year, and the Project HOPE Task Force continued to meet regularly.
2024
JED Campus Recognition: Siena officially became a JED Campus, further strengthening the institution’s commitment to supporting student mental health and emotional well-being.
Narcan Emergency Box Installation: A Narcan emergency box was installed on campus to support emergency response efforts related to opioid overdoses.
Postvention Plan Development: A comprehensive postvention plan was developed and adopted to support the Siena community following the loss of a student.
Training opportunities continued throughout the year, and the Project HOPE Task Force continued to meet regularly.
2025
National College Health Assessment: The 2025 National College Health Assessment survey was launched, with 517 Siena students completing the survey. The data collected will help guide future prevention and wellness initiatives on campus.
Training opportunities in QPR, Mental Health First Aid, and Narcan administration continued for the Siena community.
Various on- and off-campus partners hosted a Mental Health Awareness Night during a Siena University women’s basketball game.
manKIND Programming: The men’s mental health committee hosted several events, including a Men’s Wellness Panel featuring David Romano, a speaker from the Active Minds Speakers Bureau.
Out of the Darkness Walk: Siena hosted its 7th Annual Out of the Darkness Walk, raising nearly $18,000 for suicide prevention efforts.
Student Wellness Room Launch: The new Student Wellness Room launched during the fall semester, providing students with a reservable space to decompress, rest, and recharge.
A.I.D. Training Pilot:A.I.D. Training was piloted at Siena with a select group of campus partners as a new mental health gatekeeper training program, with plans for future campus-wide opportunities.
2026
Expanded A.I.D. Training: A.I.D. Training continued to be offered to select campus partners as Siena expanded its mental health gatekeeper training efforts.
Training opportunities in QPR, Mental Health First Aid, and Narcan administration continued for the Siena community.
Out of the Darkness Walk: Siena hosted its 8th Annual Out of the Darkness Walk, raising just over $12,000 for suicide prevention and awareness efforts.
manKIND Programming: The men’s mental health committee hosted various programs, including a Men’s Wellness Panel featuring Brandon Bond from the Active Minds Speakers Bureau.
Various campus and community partners collaborated to host various Mental Health Awareness events at differnt on campus sporting events: women’s basketball game, men’s basketball game, Siena swim meet, and women’s lacrosse game.
Healthy Minds Survey Relaunch: The Healthy Minds Survey was re-launched to continue gathering data on student health and well-being. The results will help assess the impact and progress of Project HOPE initiatives while informing future mental health and wellness efforts on campus.
Project HOPE Conclusion and Future Planning: The Project HOPE Task Force met for a final comprehensive review of the progress and accomplishments achieved over the past four years. Discussions focused on sustaining successful initiatives and identifying future opportunities for collaboration and mental health support will continue in a variety of other formats across campus.
