Spoon River College was one of 32 community colleges in Illinois awarded a grant to support student mental health efforts, and will receive $105,600 in funding from the Illinois Community College Board.
“A recent U.S. News survey revealed nearly 70% of college students reported struggling with their mental health,” said ICCB executive director Brian Durham.
Spoon River College dean of student services Missy Wilkinson said the funds will be used to enhance mental health services already in place as well as to implement new services. “In the coming year, Spoon River College is dedicated to using these funds to support and grow its mental health services and address gaps to better meet the mental health needs of SRC students.”
On the list is the addition of an in-person mental health counselor to supplement TimelyCare, the free 24/7 existing telepath service that all SRC students currently have access to, which offers a TalkNow hotline, scheduled counseling, connections to low or reduced-cost community resources, a peer community/safe space where students can share anonymously with other students, and self-care content.
In addition, targeted workshops that incorporate mindfulness, exercise, resilience-building activities, and self-care strategies as well as a peer support program will also be added.
Massage chairs will be added to the wellness rooms, which were created during the fall semester at both the Canton and Macomb campuses. The rooms offer a comfortable, quiet, and private space for relaxing and emotional recharging, and are equipped with inspirational messages, eye masks, yoga mats, aromatherapy, white noise machine, foam roller, coloring books, neck massager, and comfortable chairs and blankets.
The funding will aid the college in addressing underserved student populations by offering culturally responsive care and addressing barriers to accessing mental health services in the SRC district. “By focusing on increasing student engagement with mental health resources, the goal is to enhance student well-being, retention, and overall academic success,” said Wilkinson.
“Our overall goal is to build a supportive campus culture where all students can access the tools and environment needed to thrive academically, socially, and personally.”
Besides the U.S. News survey, the Lumina Foundation State of Higher Education 2024 Report indicated that 64% of currently enrolled students who recently considered stepping out of their program say emotional stress or mental health concerns are significant reasons why.
The Illinois Community College Board is the state coordinating organization for the Illinois Community College System – the third largest in the country and the leading public workforce development trainer in the state. They provided more than $3.6 million to the 32 colleges to support student mental health in 2025.
