Middlesex Community College opened the new Wellness Resource Center (WRC) to help meet students’ personal wellness and basic needs to set them up for long-term success. On Wednesday, September 20, MCC held a ribbon cutting event to invite the community to view the center’s space, eat lunch, meet staff, and learn about the wellness resources the college provides.
“The purpose of the Wellness Resource Center is to provide essential services to our student body that will assist them as they matriculate through the institution,” said Leonard Russ, MCC’s Assistant Dean of Student Support. “Through the WRC, students can accomplish personal and academic success in a safe and welcoming environment and find people who are willing to listen and help. We aim to make sure everyone feels like they have someone on their side to support, advocate and celebrate them.”
Students face many challenges in and outside of college, such as financial issues, food insecurity or lack of housing. Having a variety of mental wellness resources available gives students a greater chance of getting their basic needs met. The WRC strives to educate the community through programming, tabling and collaboration with community partners.
“Through the WRC, students can accomplish personal and academic success in a safe and welcoming environment and find people who are willing to listen and help. We aim to make sure everyone feels like they have someone on their side to support, advocate and celebrate them.” - Leonard Russ, MCC’s Assistant Dean of Student Support
“We understand how difficult it can be to focus on one’s academics when there are stressors impacting the student,” Russ said. “We want to increase our students’ understanding of how their personal wellness can impact their day-to-day lives and connect them with any community resource in and outside of MCC to ensure they are taken care of.”
The WRC provides mental health assessments, referrals and one-on-one counseling, as well as wellness coaching, and connection to community resources. Through food pantries and grab-and-go options on each campus, students can access food support, as well as get help with emergency financial and housing situations. On-campus events assist students with stress reduction, wellness education, work life balance and essential needs support, among other topics.
“The WRC helps students feel empowered and brings wellness to the forefront,” said Mei-Lein Swanson, MCC Mental Health Counseling Intern. “We want to help students succeed academically and personally by supporting them in their overall wellness and we work closely with other departments of the college to help students get in contact with the right people.”
Focusing on supporting the whole student, MCC’s WRC will continue to add new supports and expand services, including increasing capacity for mental health counseling.
“We are working to hire a full-time professional level counselor, as well to offer partnerships with a local agency called Vinfen, and provide more online support platforms for students to use when they are not on campus,” Russ said.
MCC students can access mental health services on both campuses, including the Cowan Center in Lowell in Room 407 and the Enrollment Center in Bedford. For more information on MCC’s Wellness Resource Center