In September 2024, Endicott College received a three-year $250,000 grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This federal agency, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is at the forefront of advancing the nation’s behavioral health and leading public health and service delivery efforts that promote mental health, prevent substance misuse, and provide treatment and support to foster recovery while ensuring equitable access and better outcomes.
Endicott provided matching funds to meet the grant’s requirements, further supporting initiatives to reduce substance misuse and promote suicide awareness and mental health education and resources on campus. Wellness Center Director Deidra Smith-Horton, LICSW, is spearheading these efforts, rapidly expanding programs and services to meet the growing needs of Gulls.
A cornerstone initiative is expanding the new Peer Mentor Program, launched in September 2024. This program pairs students with trained peer mentors who offer guidance and support in navigating college life. “We started with six peer mentors who are now actively engaging with students in residence halls and virtually,” Smith-Horton shared. “It’s about creating a community where students can connect and feel supported.”
The timing of the SAMHSA grant is critical, as recent data highlights a significant rise in mental health issues among young people. According to 2023 SAMHSA statistics, 12.6 million people between the ages of 18 and 25 experienced a mental, behavioral, or emotional health issue in the past year, representing 36.2% of young adults—higher than any other adult age range. This rate increased substantially from 22.1% in 2016.
Additionally, 19.5% of teens aged 12 to 17 had a major depressive episode in the past year. The CDC (2023) reports that 42% of high school students experienced feelings of sadness or hopelessness, with even higher percentages among females (57%), Hispanic students (46%), multiracial students (49%), and lesbian, gay, or bisexual students (69%). Those high school students often bring the same challenges into college, where, said Smith-Horton, their resiliency is tested.
“In adolescence, your frontal lobe has not even formed yet, and then you have the stress of college—new relationships and breakups and not making the athletic team,” she said. “It’s a high-risk population.”
While the increase in anxiety, depression, and substance use among college students is concerning, Smith-Horton emphasized that the Wellness Center and its initiatives will provide students with the necessary resources and support to thrive.
The other good news, Smith-Horton noted, is that students are more open than ever about discussing mental health. “It’s no longer a big deal for a student to say, ‘Oh, I’m going down to the Wellness Center to meet with my counselor,’” she said.
Even before the grant was awarded, the Wellness Center was in the process of expanding its counseling staff from four to six, enabling more students access to mental health services without the need to leave campus.
“Even when my counselors are crazy busy, we still see people. There’s no waiting list,” said Smith-Horton. “Finding a therapist off-campus can be challenging, especially for first-year students without transportation. So, we’re ensuring students can get the support they need right here, as well as having more staff available to triage emergent/urgent students’ needs and concerns.”
It’s often misunderstood that the Wellness Center only triages or refers; however, Smith-Horton noted, with expanded services and staff, the team regularly meets with students to ensure continuity of care.
Thanks to the grant’s funding, Smith-Horton is also establishing a new Wellness Committee composed of representatives from Academics, Athletics, Residence Life, Student Affairs, and other key areas. The committee will ensure a coordinated approach to student wellness and formalize a suicide prevention plan.
“We want to make sure everyone on campus, from faculty to students, knows about the resources available,” Smith-Horton said. “There’s a growing willingness to talk about mental health issues, and we are here to support that conversation and reduce any remaining stigma.”
Smith-Horton also plans to use the SAMHSA grant to fund a speaker series focusing on harm reduction, mental health, and suicide awareness, featuring experts as well as individuals with real-life experiences who provide practical strategies for well-being, especially around alcohol use and mental health.
“It’s about being realistic and meeting students where they are. We’re focusing on harm reduction, not abstinence, because we know that’s more realistic and effective,” she said.
“Students may make that choice to drink, and if that’s their choice, we can teach them about knowing their limits, not mixing liquor, making sure they eat, having water between drinks,” Smith-Horton continued. “It’s about being prescriptive, instead of just saying, ‘Well, you’re not supposed to drink.’”
With SAMHSA’s support, Endicott’s Wellness Center is poised to become an even more accessible resource for promoting student mental health and well-being in 2025 and beyond. Smith-Horton is now focused on establishing a centralized approach to student care by bridging communication and procedures between Academics, Residence Life, and Student Affairs.
“We want to make sure everybody is on the same page and be consistent with our messaging,” she said. “The Wellness Center is committed to being here for our community, growing our services, and ensuring that students know they have a place to turn to.”
Learn more about Endicott’s services and initiatives at the Wellness Fair on February 26, from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. in Lower Callahan.