University at Albany, State University of New York

2026 RECIPIENT

Best Practices in College Health Award — Health Education and Promotion Services Category

“EOP Mental Health Leader Program”

The Mental Health Leader (MHL) program was designed to promote student leadership and capacity to build a culture of mental health promotion within the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), by EOP students, for their community. Additionally, the MHL Program is designed to increase pathways to mental health careers for EOP students at UAlbany. Through exposure and experiential learning, structured development and high-quality training, and leadership opportunities rare at the undergraduate level, this program will support an increase in members of the EOP community who pursue and excel within mental health careers.

This program situates students in the role of advancing and promoting the health and well-being of their own community through three primary processes: mental health peer education, community needs assessment, and hosting events and community engagement. Students receive NASPA CPE training and Mental Health First Aid training, as well as training in restorative practices. They receive mentorship from an EOP alum to complete check ins to support learning and connection of peer education experiences to real-world career applications. This program supports the expansion of the paradigm around the types of students that our community comes to expect to see in health and mental health related leadership and advocacy.