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Check in with your mental health during Fresh Check Day

Check in with yourself by stopping by Fresh Check Day on Wednesday, March 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on PED Walkway. Connect with campus resources such as the Student Counseling Center, the Center for Health Education & WellnessUniversity Housing, Multicultural Student Life, RecSports, and others!

Fresh Check Day - checking in with college students logoFresh Check Day (FCD) is a mental health promotion and suicide prevention event that is held at colleges around the nation to encourage and engage students in a dialogue about mental health. It includes interactive expo booths, peer-to-peer messaging, free food, and more.

As a signature program of the Jordan Porco Foundation, FCD aims to build a bridge between students and the mental health resources that are available to them on their campus. This event will connect students with support services on campus and available resources in an accessible format.

“Fresh Check Day is focused on mental health promotion and suicide prevention. This event will consist of many interactive booths with various themes and activities related to mental health awareness.” said Lexie Dunham, FCD project manager and assistant hall director of South Carrick Hall.

Former hall director for North Carrick, Shain Johnson, had experienced the Fresh Check Day event at his previous institution and found it to be an empowering and energizing experience for all the students, which is how it first came to UT in 2022.

Targeted to current students on campus, the goal of this event is to have students walk away with techniques and information about self-care, health, and wellness. Further goals include:

  • Increase awareness of mental health resources available to students
  • Reduce stigma and misconceptions around mental health and suicide that often deter individuals from seeking help
  • Empower peers to be gatekeepers by understanding warning signs and knowing what to do if a friend is exhibiting signs of suicide or a mental health concern
  • Increase willingness to ask for help if experiencing emotional distress

Ultimately, Fresh Check Day is part of the greater emphasis UT is working on to improve the overall wellbeing and mental health of all students. By engaging the entire college community on this day, students are reminded that they are not alone and that their mental health is just as important as their physical health or academic standing.

Click here to learn more about what counseling services are available at UT or call 865-974-2196.

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: call or text to 988 from anywhere in the US at any time.