The Mental Health Coalition brings together University of Maryland students and staff from across campus who share a passion for mental health advocacy and a commitment to furthering the mental health and well-being of our community. The Coalition provides collaborative leadership in fostering a culture of mental health and wellness inclusive to the entire campus community through broad communication, campus-wide programming, and advocacy.
The founding members of the Mental Health Coalition now serve as a steering committee, ensuring the forward motion of initiatives, handling administrative tasks, and chairing the subcommittee.
Chetan Joshi, Counseling Center
Allison Asarch, Counseling Center
Leslie Krafft, Belonging & Community at UMD
Mary Kate Crawford, University Recreation & Wellness
Sarah Wilson, University Health Center
Molly Goldstein, Mental Health Coalition student intern
Members of the Mental Health Coalition joined together based on a common interest and passion for campus mental wellbeing. We are composed of students, staff and faculty with representation from UMD departments and organizations with a particular stake in improving the culture of mental health on campus. Our group is open to new members and seeks members who are committed to actively participating in the group. New members should be aware that this is an action-oriented group that involves engagement in the development, planning, and implementation of campus-wide initiatives and programs.
Departments and student organizations represented on the Mental Health Coalition commit to sending a representative to meetings twice per month. That representative takes information back to their groups from these meetings and engages their larger department or organization around mental health.
Check back to see active organizations in the Mental Health Coalition for Fall 2025
General Body Meetings for the Mental Health Coalition take place at the University Health Center once per month on Wednesdays.
Action GBMs take place via Zoom once per month on Wednesdays.
Development of an inter-departmental mental health-focused coalition began in Spring 2020 with the arrival of a new Counseling Center director, Dr. Chetan Joshi, and a goal of strategically collaborating across campus to improve the culture of mental health at UMD through large-scale mental health initiatives. This vision was strengthened when the COVID-19 pandemic began during that semester, further highlighting the need to prioritize mental wellbeing. In discussions across campus, it became clear that the Counseling Center was not alone in desiring a collaborative group to take action to improve mental wellness. Discussions began with departments and organizations deemed to have a stake in this work, leading us to solidify a membership base and begin recruiting more broadly. The Mental Health Coalition’s inaugural semester began in Fall 2021, with our pilot year taking place virtually.
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