Student IDs Now Include Mental Health Resource

Beginning this year, student identification cards at St. John Fisher University will include contact information for the new national suicide prevention lifeline number (988), and the online chat (988lifeline.org).

The inclusion of this mental health resource is a collaboration between the Health and Wellness Center, Office of Student Engagement and Leadership, Office of Information and Technology, and Office of Safety and Security. It was prompted by pending New York State legislation, the Student Lifeline Act, which would require education institutions to print this information on all student ID cards. 

Rebecca Kieffer, director of the Health and Wellness Center, was invited to attend a press conference about the legislation in July, hosted by New York State Senator Samra Brouk, New York State Assemblywoman Sarah Clark, and Jennifer Lake, CEO of Goodwill of Finger Lakes. Goodwill runs the 988 Call Center in Monroe County. While the legislation is still awaiting a signature from Governor Kathy Hochul, Kieffer jumped at the chance to implement the requirements immediately. Working with the Office of Safety and Security, all ID cards for incoming new students will include the verbiage, and moving forward, it will be printed on any new cards.

“Talking about mental wellness is one way we can work to decrease the stigma that can still be attached to this topic. By including 988 resources on our ID cards, students receive the message that mental health is ok to discuss and address,” said Kieffer. “They are also exposed to a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week, free resource if they find themselves in need of support.”