Luna Community College is excited to announce the launch of a new partnership with TBH, a leading provider of virtual mental health support services to colleges nationwide, to offer its students access to no cost, culturally validating mental health coaching services. This partnership has been made available thanks to a generous community grant from the Las Vegas New Mexico Community Foundation (LVNMCF).
Through the Luna Strong Mental Health Initiative, LCC students—many of whom have been affected by the Hermit Peak and Calf Canyon wildfires and have experienced either temporary or long-term homelessness—will enjoy access to dedicated TBH mental health coaches who can help them with both in-the-moment and long-term support. By addressing students’ mental health needs, LCC aims to improve student access, retention, and completion.
“We are excited to prioritize student mental health and help our students develop the tools they need to navigate college, build key workforce skills, and lead successful professional lives as members of their community,” says Dr. Carol Linder, the Project Director who spearheaded this initiative. “Roughly 80 percent of Luna students are minority students. Many of them are first-generation students, part-time working parents, or student veterans, and our goal is to help alleviate any social, emotional, financial, or academic distress they experience.”
Through this Initiative, LCC students will have 24/7 access to a dedicated online platform, where they can book individual and group-based appointments with mental health coaches who come from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences. They can also access digital resources to practice coping skills or receive support between sessions.
“We’re incredibly proud to play an integral role in the Luna Strong Initiative and help democratize access to mental healthcare for LCC students in order to prepare them to succeed at school and beyond,” says Anjali Menon, Chief Executive Officer of TBH. “It’s particularly exciting to see such innovative services being brought to more remote communities that have been historically underserved or overlooked.”
LCC, the only community college in San Miguel, Mora, Colfax, and Guadalupe Counties, is dedicated to providing accessible and innovative learning experiences that prepare students to compete at the forefront of their chosen fields and to lead in their local community. TBH has developed a comprehensive program to enhance student mental health on college campuses, including rural and remote communities. Designed to seamlessly integrate with existing campus counseling and student service resources, the TBH program and its team of experienced service professionals provide end-to-end support services for students.
About Luna Community College (LCC):
Luna Community College is the only community college in northeastern New Mexico. LCC offers courses and programs in person and via distance learning at all instructional centers, including Las Vegas, Santa Rosa, Springer and Mora. LCC is dedicated to providing accessible, innovative, and integrated learning experiences that prepare students to compete at the forefront of their chosen fields and to lead in their community.
About The Las Vegas New Mexico Community Foundation (LVNMCF):
The Las Vegas, NM Community Foundation is a philanthropic grant program that was formed in the spring of 2018 to support and fund projects that focus on community building. These grants are awarded annually in the areas of Arts & Culture, Community Development, Education, Agricultural & Environmental Sustainability, Health & Wellness and Historic Preservation.
About TBH
TBH is committed to enhancing the social, emotional, and physical wellness of college students in order to help them succeed at school and beyond. Amid an influx of students requiring mental health support, and an inability of many counseling centers to meet the demand, TBH is offering an online suite of on-demand, culturally validating support services for students. The TBH program has been used by thousands of college students nationwide to date.
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