Cornell University

Mental Health at Cornell

Resources for student & campus wellbeing

Ways Students Can Get Involved

Students building wooden frames for Habitat for Humanity

Join a group. Volunteer. Connect with Others.

There are numerous student organizations committed to supporting the mental and physical health of individuals and our community. The following list highlights student organizations, categorized by topic areas that you can consider joining:

Groups

  • Mental Health:
    • Cornell Minds Matter is a student organization that promotes the overall mental and emotional health of all Cornell students, works to reduce the stigma of mental illness and help-seeking for a mental health concern, and holds events open to the entire Cornell community that foster a healthy, balanced lifestyle.
    • Reflect at Cornell is a student organization dedicated to de-stigmatizing mental health and improving the mental health of students by providing them a safe forum to engage in open and honest discussion. Cornell Reflect takes a proactive approach to solving the current college and graduate student mental health crisis by leading students to care for their mental health as a normal part of everyday life. At Reflect meetings, members meet to discuss topics such as jobs, stress, and relationships in a safe-space setting. Food is served alongside small group discussions moderated by trained students. Learn more about Reflect at Cornell.
    • EARS (Empathy, Assistance and Referral Service) is a student organization in which members promote student mental health and well-being through training, workshops, and outreach efforts. Each semester, EARS offers trainings in empathy, listening, and helping skills to empower members of the Cornell community to offer support in their respective social circles. Additionally, EARS provides workshops for campus groups and departments to promote mental health awareness, help-seeking behavior, and ways to support others.
    • Body Positive Cornell (BPC) -  BPC promotes holistic wellness practices that increase physical, mental, and emotional health using a weight-neutral, self-empowerment model. BPC runs peer-facilitated groups of undergraduate and graduate students every semester using the Be Body Positive curriculum, a research-based program grounded in the Health at Every Size philosophy. 
    • B.O.S.S. Cornell: B.O.S.S. stands for Building Ourselves through Sisterhood & Service is a student run peer mentorship organization dedicated to aiding in the transition to college for self-identified women of color at Cornell. B.O.S.S. fosters genuine relationships between women of color and community service and hosts an annual mental health summit.
    • Cornell Vet Student Wellness Initiative: Advocates for the well-being of veterinary medicine students and professionals with self-care and wellness resources. Email: cornellvetwellness@gmail.com.
    • The Yellow Paint Society: A community that promotes mental health and wellbeing for the Cornell community through art.
  • Alcohol and Other Drugs
    • SOBER@Cornell is a group for students, either in recovery or abstaining from drugs and alcohol, who are looking for an alternative lifestyle. They aim to create a fun, safe, sober place for anyone hoping to enjoy the company of friends and have sought to lessen the stigma associated with recovery and support sobriety for students.
    • CUEMS (Cornell University Emergency Medical Service) is a New York State certified, student-run Emergency Medical Service (EMS) agency. The CUEMS squad provides emergency response to medical emergencies on Cornell University campus and surrounding university-owned properties.
    • CUTonight Commission provides funding for and increases the number of alcohol-free and diverse late night social and recreational events available on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
    • Cayuga’s Watchers aims to progress social norms at Cornell by emphasizing safe and responsible drinking, engaging students in comprehensive training programs, and offering free, professional sober-monitoring services to campus organizations.
  • Sexual Violence Prevention
    • One Love at Cornell a chapter of the national nonprofit The One Love Foundation, educates peers about the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships through engaging peer-to-peer, film-and-discussion workshops. The chapter works hard to center their efforts around communities that historically were (and still often are) left out of conversations on relationship violence, by tailoring each workshop and bringing in diverse perspectives. The Love family started the foundation in 2010 in honor of Yeardley Love, a 22-year-old college student and Varsity lacrosse player who was killed by her ex-boyfriend.
    • Sexual Violence Prevention Network (SVPN): SVPN works to promote participation in sexual violence prevention with organizations whose work aligns with those efforts, center the experiences of victims and survivors in this work, and engage and connect with others across campus to raise awareness and create positive change.
  • Assemblies:
  • Social Connection Resources (see "Social Connection" Resources tab) 

Volunteer

Other connections