Take a moment to check-in during Fresh Check Day
LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 24, 2024) — As students return from Spring Break, stress levels often rise with looming finals, projects and other commitments. To address those issues and encourage students to be proactive about their mental health, POWER (Prevention, Outreach, and Wellness Education Resources), along with campus partners, will host Fresh Check Day (FCD) 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday, March 25 in the Gatton Student Center Ballrooms. This fun-filled, interactive event is designed to promote mental health and suicide prevention among college students.
In addition, students will have the chance to receive a Fresh Check Day T-shirt and receive UK Invests credit based on their participation. Campus partners will also have giveaways and promotional materials.
Fresh Check Day, a national program created by the Jordan Porco Foundation, provides tools and resources to support students through the remainder of the semester. It serves as a reminder for students to pause, reflect and check in with themselves. FCD aims to break the stigma around mental health, encourage open conversations and educate students about risk factors and warning signs. Through peer-to-peer messaging, engaging booths, free food and giveaways, the event fosters a supportive and welcoming space for students to connect with campus and community resources.
“This event is about normalizing mental health check-ins and ensuring students know support is available,” said Kim Rufra, director of POWER. “Students will have the opportunity to engage with mental health screenings, substance use assessments, and learn about resources in a relaxed, interactive setting.”
The event will be an opportunity to connect with peers and learn more about the outstanding student well-being resources available to UK students.
Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to attend and take a moment to check in on their well-being, while helping support a culture of care at UK.
At the University of Kentucky, students are at the center of all that we do. From the moment you become a Wildcat through graduation and beyond, the Office for Student Success is committed to supporting you. Comprised of five areas and 25 units, together, they have one vision — to help students live a life of meaning. Student Success works through an equitable, holistic and inclusive lens to design and deliver unparalleled services and support a diverse community of learners in achieving their wildest ambitions. In the Office for Student Success this is what we do — this is who we are. You can explore resources available to you here. If you have additional questions, you can reach a Student Success team member by calling the helpline 859-218-YouK (9685).