Victoria College has been awarded a $294,254 grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to increase student awareness and access to mental health services.
Through the GLS Campus Suicide Prevention Grant, VC’s Counseling Center projects to serve approximately 570 students between September 2024 and September 2027.
“Mental health is not talked about enough, and we’re trying to change that,” said Brittany Proctor, VC Counselor. “With this grant, we’ll be able to provide an outlet for students who need counseling but have been made to feel or believe otherwise.”
The grant, which supports 100 percent of project costs, will enable VC’s Counseling Center to:
- Increase awareness and access of mental health services among students
- Increase the Counseling Center’s capacity to positively impact the academic goals of students facing mental health challenges
Grant activities will include implementing a new Emotional Intelligence Curriculum for incoming students, increased outreach to male students, new mental health workshop and seminar topics, and training for VC employees.
“Providing our students with the tools to cope with any and all emotions they’re experiencing, no matter the size, is what we’re here for and one of our main initiatives in the Counseling Center,” said Proctor. “There should be no stigma around simply asking for help.”
For more information about VC’s Counseling Center and the free services provided to VC students, visit VictoriaCollege.edu/CounselingServices or contact Proctor at (361) 582-2431.