JMU receives grant to increase mental health assistance

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) recently awarded James Madison University a grant to improve mental health services and increase the number of mental health providers on JMU’s campus.  

JMU is among four other Virginia universities receiving $100,000 annually over two years from the second round of the Higher Education Mental Health Workforce Pilot. JMU also received funding through the first round of the grant in 2022. 

The pilot program aims to help universities expand mental health services to students while increasing the mental health workforce pipeline. Each grant award will underwrite the salary and benefits of an onsite licensed clinical social worker or licensed professional candidate, according to SCHEV.  

“Initiatives like this are always appreciated because they enable us to provide training and supervision to a resident and to increase the number of clinical hours that our center can provide to the student body,” said Nina Critz, associate director of JMU’s Counseling Center. “The grant also helps us fulfill our mission to provide a safe, supportive, trusting, and confidential environment that empowers students to meet future challenges and lead meaningful lives,” added Critz. 

Critz said the previous grant allowed the Counseling Center to hire, train and supervise a resident who offered additional appointments to students. The Counseling Center plans to hire a new resident from the second-round grant in fall 2025. 

The Virginia Assembly funded the first pilot in 2022 and allocated continued funding in the 2024-26 budget.