Sometimes, the most powerful actions are the simplest ones. At Michigan State University, a small but meaningful update is ensuring that mental health resources are always within reach. Moving forward, all MSU Spartan Cards will feature suicide prevention hotline numbers-because help should never be hard to find.
This student-led initiative places the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline directly on every Spartan Card, along with a QR code linking to a centralized hub of campus crisis resources. In addition, each Spartan Card will carry the message: "You Are Not Alone." It's a simple phrase, but for someone struggling, it could be lifesaving.
The idea came from MSU student Will Brown, who noticed that his high school ID Card included suicide prevention resources, something that was missing from the University's Spartan Cards. His research revealed that Michigan's "Save Our Students" Act requires suicide hotline information on ID Cards for grades 6-12, inspiring him to push for the same accessibility at the university level.
Determined to make a change, Will brought the idea to leadership through the Spartan Envoy program, a student-driven initiative launched in 2024 by the Department of Police and Public Safety (DPPS). This program fosters open communication between students and campus safety officials, ensuring student concerns are heard and acted upon.
According to the University Health and Wellbeing Survey (n=4,696), less than 60% of Spartans strongly agree that they know where to go if they are concerned about their mental health. This initiative aligns with the recently adopted Okanagan Charter by embedding mental health support into everyday campus life, fostering a culture of wellbeing and accessibility for all Spartans.
The impact of this change is twofold:
- It provides immediate access to support when someone needs it most.
- It helps reduce the stigma around mental health. When something as universal as a Spartan Card acknowledges mental health struggles, it normalizes seeking help.
This initiative is a testament to the power of student voices. Students know what their peers are facing, and their leadership in shaping a more supportive campus is invaluable. A simple addition to the Spartan Card with simple and easy to access resources, sends a clear message: We see you. We hear you. You are not alone.
While leadership had been working on updating the Spartan Card with mental health resources for some time, along with researching how other universities have approached this and developing proposed language, Will's push accelerated the process, proving that student advocacy is a powerful force for meaningful and timely change.
This initiative required strong collaboration across multiple departments, including the DPPS, MSU IT, and University Health and Wellbeing (UHW), demonstrating the impact of working together to integrate wellbeing throughout the university. Collaboration is a key value of the University, including UHW.
The Spartan Cards are now available to all new Spartans, including students, faculty, and staff. Those who wish to have a reprint with the new information can visit the ID Office and have a new Spartan Card issued with no replacement fee for a limited time.
If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out. Help is always available. Call 988. Scan the code. Talk to someone. You are never alone.
