When Nicholas Conforti ‘27 arrived at Le Moyne as a first-year student in the fall of 2023, he knew that he wanted to forge close connections within the Le Moyne community. Conforti was also eager to play a role in the promotion of mental health on campus. It was a topic that he and his peers had been speaking out about more frequently, and which had been garnering increasing national attention. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 20 percent of American adults exhibited signs of anxiety and depression that year. That reflected a growing trend in mental health challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. And so, as Conforti settled into life on campus, he also spent time reflecting on the importance of mental health, and what he might be able to do to “brighten someone else’s day” in a small but meaningful way.
Conforti went on to enroll in AVS 102: Dolphins Changing Minds. The interdisciplinary course prepares students to utilize 14 evidence-based interventions that support resiliency, positive mental health and holistic wellness. The interventions include cultivating a growth mindset, habit formation, mindfulness, emotional regulation and self-compassion. The course also covers other critical topics such as the importance of sleep, activity and good nutrition. The class was small, with only about a dozen students per section, which allowed Conforti and his classmates to engage in rich discussion. They spent a great deal of time addressing how to integrate and apply the concepts they studied. Upon completion of the class, the students became eligible to serve as wellness ambassador fellows, helping to lead mental health and suicide prevention initiatives on campus and at local high schools.
Today, over 306 students have completed Dolphins Changing Minds, and there are more than 30 active wellness ambassador fellows working across campus. The ambassadors, all of whom have advanced training in suicide awareness and prevention, help to promote a culture where it is OK to ask for help. Some of the ambassadors even speak to local high school students about promoting mental health; they partner with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to help high school students learn about warning signs and what resources are available. Whether on campus or off, the ambassadors are helping to promote resilience and healthy coping with the myriad life stressors that we all face. The ambassadors host speakers and programs, post on social media, support the Wellness Center initiatives, and sometimes just plaster campus walkways with messages of support, some as succinct as: “You’ve got this.”
It is a program of which Anne Kearney, who was the original project director, is extremely proud. Kearney noted that across the country college students, even though more connected by social media than ever before, are reporting higher levels of loneliness and isolation. Given that, she is particularly happy with the ways students have developed real connections with each other by embracing these important topics in the classroom.
“They have shown a willingness to have meaningful conversations with their peers about some of the common challenges that they face,” she said. “I love seeing students get excited when learning about ‘growth mindset,’ as well as learning about and practicing mindfulness. Their willingness to practice and reflect on a variety of resiliency building strategies is remarkable.”
The program has proven to be extremely popular. Students have reported that it improved their academic performance, emotional well-being and interpersonal relationships. A total of 96 percent of those surveyed said they would highly recommend this course to their friends.
Among those is Shayesta Baqaakhail ‘24, who participated in the program as a student and who now serves as its coordinator. Baqaakhail’s responsibilities include fostering connection and growth among the ambassadors and the Le Moyne community. She guides and mentors the wellness ambassadors, ensuring they feel supported in their roles. She also collaborates with different departments to design programs and initiatives that resonate with students’ needs, and helps organize workshops and events that spark important conversations about wellness.
“My greatest hope is that students walk away from this program feeling seen, heard and valued,” she said. “I want them to understand that prioritizing their mental health isn’t a sign of weakness – it’s a testament to their strength. I hope they leave with the confidence to be kind to themselves, to support others and to create change in their own unique ways. Ultimately, I want them to know that they are not alone and that they have the power to build a brighter, healthier future for themselves and their communities.”
Destany Martinez ‘27, a dual major in psychology and education, said that she hopes to use her role as a wellness ambassador to change people’s points of views around their own mental health. She hopes that people learn that they are not alone, and that they should share their feelings with others to not be overwhelmed by their feelings.
“I have learned that the happiest people can sometimes carry the biggest burdens on the inside,” she said. “It sounds cliche to say, but it’s true. Through this program I have found that wonderful people who I want to advocate for, protect, and aid in mental health have struggled the most with their own. I plan on carrying this through my life … we should all advocate for one another whether it is someone’s best day or worst.”
The AVS 102 Dolphins Changing Minds class and the Wellness Ambassador Fellowship are made possible thanks to a two-year Booth Ferris Grant of $300,000 and an Excellus Innovation Award.
By Molly McCarthy, Writer/Editor, Le Moyne College Office of Communications