A Message Regarding Mental Health Support at Penn

From

Amy Gutmann, President

Vincent Price, Provost

As the Penn community comes together to mourn in the wake of a recent and very tragic death, we are ever mindful of the need to ensure that all of our students have access to any support they may need.  

As many of you may be aware, our Task Force on Student Psychological Health and Welfare concluded its year-long study in 2015, and we have implemented its recommendations.   We have asked the chairs of the Task Force, Anthony Rostain and Rebecca Bushnell, to immediately reconvene the Task Force to determine as expeditiously as possible what additional steps can be taken to help ensure the health and well-being of our students.  In the process of completing this charge, the Task Force will also evaluate the impact of its previously implemented recommendations, and determine whether there are any changes that should be made to further improve their effectiveness. 

In the interim, we are extending the hours of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) in the evenings and on weekends.  We are also reaching out to other mental health experts here on campus to solicit their ideas for action.  We welcome and appreciate the suggestions offered by our students and other members of the Penn community.  There are numerous meetings going on across campus about this issue involving students, faculty, VPUL, the College Houses, the Chaplain’s Office, CAPS, school advising offices, and others, and the entire Penn community is engaged in important conversations about how we can support each other and further address issues involving mental health.  We are heartened by the extraordinary partnership of many student groups, such as Penn Wellness, Active Minds, Penn Benjamins, RAP Line, and the organizers of this year’s inaugural all-Ivy Mental Health Conference, among others. 

We have also instructed our central support services, including CAPS, to inform us if they require any additional resources to meet student needs during these challenging days.  We have not and will not let resources stand in the way of protecting the mental health needs of our community.

The health and well-being of our students is paramount.  We are committed to do all that we possibly can to ensure that students have the support they need.   Please be assured that the University will explore every possible avenue in our effort to make Penn a model for addressing mental wellness.