Mental Health Guide for Tompkins Schools

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Five Ithaca-based mental health organizations have released the 2025-26 edition of their resource guide, “Mental Health Support & Suicide Prevention for Schools in Tompkins County.”

If you have a comment, concern, or suggestion about mental health in Tompkins schools, please feel free to email it to The Sophie Fund: thesophiefund2016@gmail.com.

National and local surveys document the seriousness of a mental health crisis affecting young people. In a survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 40 percent of high schoolers said they experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. Twenty-nine percent reported poor mental health, and 20 percent said they had considered taking their own lives.

A survey of high school and middle school students in Tompkins County came up with similar patterns. Forty-seven percent said they felt anxious or worried on most days, 35 percent felt sad or depressed on most days, and 34 percent said that “sometimes I think life is not worth it.”

To support Tompkins County schools, the resources guide was first launched in 2024 by the Suicide Prevention & Crisis Service of Tompkins County, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Greater Central New York, National Alliance on Mental Illness Finger Lakes, Mental Health Association in Tompkins County, and The Sophie Fund.

“For our school personnel, this can be a hearty quick reference guide with options that can be tailored to a student’s needs—or a fellow colleague’s needs,” said Tiffany Bloss, executive director of the Suicide Prevention & Crisis Service.

“There are many opportunities for no-cost trainings to enhance the comfort level and confidence in talking to someone else about their mental health.”

After a brief “Mental Health & Suicide Prevention 101” introduction, the guide details the mental health and suicide prevention education and training that the organizations are ready to present to Tompkins school administrators, teachers, students, and parents.

DOWNLOAD: Mental Health Support & Suicide Prevention for Schools in Tompkins County

The guide compiles handbooks and toolkits to assist Tompkins schools in developing mental health promotion and bullying prevention programming as well as suicide prevention strategies in their school communities. The guide points to recommendations for youth use of social media issued by the U.S. Surgeon General and the American Psychological Association.

“Tompkins County’s mental health nonprofits offer beneficial mental health programs designed for students, teachers, and parents,” said Sandra Sorensen, executive director of NAMI Finger Lakes. “Bridging the gap in education and community services is important to all of us. We already have great evidence-based programs designed and ready to go at no cost to our schools. The guide outlines all of our programs and highlights our collaborative nature. We are here to serve and assist.”

The guide also includes 5 Simple Steps, a downloadable “safety plan” young people (or adults) can consult if they are feeling overwhelmed with a deteriorating mood.

DOWNLOAD: 5 Simple Steps

The five organizations requested an opportunity to meet directly with the Tompkins County school superintendents and their leadership teams to provide a presentation on the support services available and respond to any concerns or questions they may have. The organizations have met with the Ithaca and Trumansburg districts, but Lansing, Groton, Dryden, and Newfield have not scheduled a meeting.

If you or someone you know feels the need to speak with a mental health professional, you can call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 9-8-8, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741-741.

What Happened to Cornell’s Mental Health Review?

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In 2020, a task force handed the Cornell University administration a 34-page Mental Health Review Final Report containing 130 core and sub recommendations for improving support for student mental health and well-being on the Ithaca campus. Five years later, Cornell has failed to present a full account to the Cornell or Ithaca communities of how it handled those recommendations as it had pledged to do.

Cornell University campus

Our daughter Sophie ’14 died by suicide in Ithaca in March 2016 during a health leave of absence from Cornell. We wrote to Cornell University President Martha Pollack in April 2017 asking her to commission a task force for a comprehensive review of Cornell’s policies and practices related to student mental health.

In our letter, we observed “systemic failure” in Cornell’s mental health policy and practice affecting areas such as suicide prevention, mental health counseling, and sexual violence. We wrote that we witnessed “an institutional mindset reflecting complacency and defensiveness that appears to prioritize Cornell’s public image over the welfare of students struggling with mental disorders.”

In January 2018 Pollack rejected our request. But in September 2018, she announced the establishment of a Mental Health Review (MHR) after graduate and undergraduate student organizations petitioned the administration to launch a review.

The MHR task force began its work in Fall 2019. As we had requested, the task force was led by external experts, including Michael Hogan, a former New York State mental health commissioner and a widely recognized expert in suicide prevention.

In April 2020, the task force handed the Cornell administration a report on its comprehensive review, which called for “culture change” and made recommendations for improvements in areas such as mental health and medical services, academic policies, student well-being, and proactive support for struggling students.

The task force characterized recommendations as “immediate,” requiring “limited time and resources”; “intermediate,” which “may take a year or more to achieve”; and “aspirational”—“goals that involve a significant investment of staff time and financial resources, or long-term culture shift.”

When making the report public in October 2020, a six-month delay owing to campus focus on responding to the Covid-19 pandemic, Cornell announced the creation of a seven-member Executive Accountability Committee.

The committee’s four “executive sponsors” and three “change leads” would evaluate and work toward implementing the MHR report’s “robust series of recommendations” in three key areas—academic community, campus community and clinical services.

A statement from the committee posted to the Cornell Health webpage announced: “Progress Updates will be provided by members of the Executive Accountability Committee at the end of each academic semester. Updates will include progress toward specific recommendations from the Mental Health Review.”

The MHR task force had recommended “a widely representative permanent committee on mental health to ensure the implementation of immediate recommendations, and to monitor progress and conduct further review of those recommendations that will require more time and resources to enact.”

The Sophie Fund, which we established in 2016 as a nonprofit advocacy organization supporting mental health initiatives for young people in the greater Ithaca community, commended the task force’s recommendations and the Cornell administration’s commitment to a transparent process for implementing them. We publicly thanked Pollack and Vice President for Student & Campus Life Ryan Lombardi for “recognizing the need for continuous attention to student mental health.”

Over the next two years, however, the Executive Accountability Committee provided sparse and incomplete updates on the implementation progress. In 2022, Cornell halted the specific recommendations updates and disbanded the Executive Accountability Committee.

In October 2022, Pollack announced that Cornell had adopted the international Okanagan Charter and launched a “Health Promoting Campus” initiative.

Cornell administrators said that responsibility for the MHR recommendations and campus mental health policies and practices would now fall to a 25-member Student Well-Being Council (and its six subcommittees) under a “campus-wide Community of Practice.”

On April 30, we asked Pollack’s successor, President Michael Kotlikoff, “to provide a report to the Cornell and Ithaca communities on the status of the 60 core recommendations (130 including sub-recommendations).”

In a letter to Kotlikoff, we wrote that such a report “will illustrate the concrete improvements deserving of recognition that have been made over the past five years as the result of the review commissioned by President Pollack. It will highlight the areas where work still needs to be done, and how Cornell intends to proceed in those areas. Finally, transparently fulfilling a commitment to hold itself accountable will enhance confidence and respect in how Cornell is supporting its students’ well-being and acting as a responsible and valued part of the greater community.”

Kotlikoff declined our request, which was repeated in a series of four further email exchanges in May, June, and July. He explained that Cornell has moved on from a focus on the MHR recommendations in favor of the “Health Promoting Campus” initiative.

On May 7, Kotlikoff wrote:

“Cornell adopted the Okanagan Charter in 2022. This commitment is the next phase of our Mental Health Review, representing a holistic approach focused on promoting health across all aspects of our campus. Through this commitment, we have made significant strides in enhancing support: mental health and well-being have been complemented by policy changes aimed at fostering a supportive environment for our students, guidelines to make policies more health-promoting, embedding well-being into classroom settings, and continuing to provide training to students, staff, and faculty in how to identify individuals in distress.”

Thanking us for our “continued advocacy on behalf of student mental health and well-being in the Cornell and greater Ithaca communities,” Kotlikoff wrote on May 29:

“Since the publication of the Mental Health Review Final Report in 2020, Cornell has made significant progress in implementing in full or part many of the recommendations outlined in the report, as was shared via reports published through October 2022. However, because the landscape of student needs, service delivery, and institutional priorities has shifted dramatically in light of the profound changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, other recommendations have necessarily evolved or been reconsidered. These shifts led Cornell to move from a focus on meeting MHR recommendations to the October 2022 adoption of the Okanagan Charter and launch of the Health Promoting Campus initiative.”

On July 15, Kotlikoff wrote that Cornell has adopted “a much more rigorous assessment and evaluation approach to our work.” He shared that a publication, authored by a Cornell health administrator, “has revealed marked improvement via a simultaneous increase of student flourishing and substantial decreases in levels of students’ anxiety, depression, and psychological distress.”

Kotlikoff, though responding promptly and with courtesy to our emails, did not agree to our request to meet with him to discuss our concerns in person, referring us instead to subordinates in the Cornell administration.

Our current concerns about student mental health at Cornell go beyond the status of the MHR recommendations, as we wrote in our initial letter to President Kotlikoff on April 30.

We said that our concerns include the constant turnover and lengthy gaps in filling key positions at Cornell Health, which we said “raise questions about the administration’s commitment to ensuring robust and consistent leadership for student mental health.”

From our April 30 letter:

“In early 2020, the university created a new position of Assistant Vice President of Student & Campus Life for Health and Well-Being who would be responsible for overseeing student mental health and well-being on the clinical side of Cornell Health and importantly on the academic side of Cornell’s various schools. The AVP was put in charge of supervising implementation of recommendations in the MHR Report, which she declared “underscores the need for significant culture change at Cornell.” At the end of 2021, the AVP announced her resignation citing “all-consuming and exhausting” work that included leading the university’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Despite the critical importance of this particular leadership role for student mental health and well-being and specifically for implementing the MHR recommendations, the Cornell administration left this AVP position leading a 200-person staff vacant for two and a half years until finally promoting an internal applicant in mid-2024. Cornell Health has now had three directors in six years.

“Cornell Health’s Counseling & Psychological Services, which provides essential day-to-day clinical support for Cornell’s students, has also seen three directors in six years, with the most recent director leaving the position just weeks into the current academic year with no permanent replacement appointed thus far seven months later.

“Another key unit, Cornell’s Skorton Center for Health Initiatives, has likewise had three directors in the past four years. As you of course are aware, the Skorton Center is charged with directing campus public health education and training programs for issues such as mental health, alcohol and drug addiction, sexual assault, hazing, and suicide prevention.”

By Scott MacLeod and Susan Hack

Scott MacLeod and Susan Hack are co-founders of The Sophie Fund, established in memory of their daughter Sophie, who died by suicide in Ithaca during a health leave of absence from Cornell.

“I Was Very Good at Hiding My Mental Health Struggles”

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In my senior year of high school, I missed six weeks for a mental health hospitalization followed by outpatient programs. If you ask any of my friends now, they could tell you that I could talk about mental health for hours. But until last August, that was never the case.

Psychologist having session with her patient in office

In March 2024, I was at the peak of my academic career—attending conferences, winning international awards, even patenting inventions. A week later, I had a plan to end my life.

That’s what mental illness can look like.

I had a good relationship with my school counselor, and in the middle of that crisis, I went to her. What made her so unique—and what ultimately saved my life—was that she never used my achievements as proof that I was okay. She didn’t say, “But your grades are good, you’re going to Cornell!” She listened and saw past my smile and grades. And because of that, I told her the truth.

I was very good at hiding my mental health struggles. My parents didn’t know, my friends didn’t know, my teachers didn’t know. While I was struggling everyday to keep living, I hung out with friends, maintained grades, and was always studying.

I remember at the height of my mental health crisis, I was doing my physics homework on the ambulance ride from the school to an ER.

While I was hospitalized, I even asked staff to print out my AP Calc BC worksheets so I wouldn’t be behind.

My doctor at this hospital saw my smile, not my suffering. Even fellow patients said I seemed “too normal” to need help. That’s when I learned how invisible mental illness can be when it hides behind high achievement. And how almost no one, not even mental health professionals, believe you if you don’t look the part.

Moments before I planned to die, I was in my best friend’s favorite place. Images of her never being able to see it the same way if I passed flooded my mind. I didn’t want to ruin the place she loved most.

So I got help. After I was hospitalized, I found out that my best friends, within 24 hours, had rushed to my favorite teacher, who canceled her morning classes just to be with them. That moment became my proof that I mattered.

I went through inpatient and outpatient treatment that introduced me to almost every type of therapy, I learned about the importance of sharing lived experiences, and I tried so many different medications until one felt right.

I made it to graduation—something I’d never planned.

Halfway through the summer, I realized I had never fully recovered. Though I was scared, I chose to get help again.

At the emergency room, with my therapist by my side, the doctor looked at me and said: “It’s as if you came to the ER with no broken bones and asked for a cast. Inpatient is for sick people. And to me, you just look like a smart girl who’s stressed. You can go home.”

That was the worst moment of my life. I was asking for help, not avoiding it, and still, the way I presented myself, my biggest defense, prevented my care. I hated myself.

Though I wanted to give up, my loved ones convinced me to try again. I was thankfully admitted to McLean Hospital, a psychiatric hospital outside Boston, where these doctors believed that I was sick despite my smile.

I met a Nobel Prize winner, a Harvard professor, and a psychologist at the hospital who were also receiving care. They were accomplished individuals who still needed help.

I finally found proof and assurance that mental health has no look. It doesn’t always look like failing classes or crying in public or missing work. Sometimes, it looks like straight As, laughing with friends, and college acceptances. During my stay at McLean, I received a diagnosis that made everything click, and I was stable enough to move into my freshman dorm at Cornell one week after being discharged.

I am proud of myself and my progress. Don’t get me wrong. There are days I can’t get out of bed. And days I feel amazing. My courage was once measured by keeping secrets. Now courage means reaching out for help, using coping skills, and taking medication.

My counselor used to say that chaos creates change. 2024 was the most chaotic year of my life, but because of it I am better. Now I get to study what I love, support others through crisis work, and speak openly about mental health.

Every 40 seconds, someone takes their life. That’s over 720,000 people every year. Mental illness does not discriminate. So, please: check in with your loved ones, especially those who seem the happiest. I am grateful for my high school for caring about mental health, and most importantly, I am thankful for my teachers, counselors, and best friends.

Let me end with this, especially if you’re struggling. Suicide is preventable and is important to talk about. You may not want to exist right now, but someone is so happy that you have stayed for them. There are so many places to go, so many friends to love, and so much time to live.

It takes a lot of strength to do your best when you feel your worst. Ask for help if you need it. Ask for it until someone listens. Never stop asking, because if I gave up on trying a year ago, I wouldn’t have made it. Remember that mental illness has no look, and most importantly, that someone loves you.

—By Anonymous

Anonymous is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences majoring in neurobiology and cognitive science at Cornell University

If you or someone you know feels the need to speak with a mental health professional, you can call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 9-8-8, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741-741.

UPDATED: A Parent’s Guide to College Student Mental Health

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Political division and violence at home. Conflicts around the globe. Tense debates over everything from climate change to public health. Not to mention the pressures of succeeding in college and finding a job after graduation.

These are very stressful times for today’s college students. They require parents to fully grasp the serious mental health challenges their students may face and be equipped to provide support.

Cornell University students participating in a campus suicide prevention walk in April 2024

Did you know that the majority of college students today meet the criteria for at least one mental health complaint? Or that there are often wait lists to receive support from college counseling centers, community clinics, and private therapists?

The Sophie Fund publishes “A Parent’s Guide to College Student Mental Health” to help parents—especially those whose children are attending college in Ithaca—better understand the challenges and how to deal with them.

The guide curates key resources about student mental health and lists support services on campus and in the Ithaca community. It also includes advice from local mental health experts, college administrators, current and former students, and parents of students who have dealt with psychological challenges in college.

DOWNLOAD: A Parent’s Guide to College Student Mental Health (PDF)

Rates of depression and anxiety are high among college students. In fact, many students carry suicidal thoughts. Sexual assault is prevalent among college students. Hazing violence as an initiation rite at fraternities and some student organizations is a serious problem.

All of these factors pose even greater risks for students who arrive on campus with a mental health or substance use disorder.

“It’s crucial for parents to understand potential signs of distress, and how to foster trust and open communication to support their child during this period of transition,” said Sigrid Pechenik, former associate director of Cornell University’s Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS).

“It’s never too early to start a conversation, do not wait until mid or late semester. Recognize symptoms beyond expected adjustment, such as changes in mood and behavior, academic struggles, social withdrawal, changes in communication, and/or loss of interest in things that they used to enjoy.”

Failure to understand these realities of college student life today, and to help with issues that may arise, can lead to serious consequences.

When parents do fully grasp the scope of the challenges, they are more attuned to how their student is handling the major life transition from home to college. Parents especially need to understand the risk factors and warning signs for a mental health crisis, and how to support their student if they should exhibit cause for concern.

Help can range from staying connected with moral support and positive encouragement to evaluating and navigating mental health treatment options at the college counseling center, in the community, or back home during a health leave of absence.

Our plea to parents: Even if you think you don’t need it, download and review the guide, and keep it close at hand during your student’s college years and beyond.

DOWNLOAD: A Parent’s Guide to College Student Mental Health (PDF)

Time for the 10th Annual Ithaca Cupcake Baking Contest!

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Can you believe it? For the tenth year in a row, The Sophie Fund is hosting the Annual Ithaca Cupcake Baking Contest on Saturday October 18 at the Bernie Milton Pavilion in the Ithaca Commons.

What flavors are exciting your senses? Salted caramel? Peanut butter or pomegranate? Mocha or green tea? Strawberry or coconut? The judges can’t wait to taste your masterpieces.

CLICK HERE for all the information on contest procedures and rules, and the Contest Registration Form.

(You can register online or download a Contest Registration Form and bring it to the contest venue with your cupcakes).

Contestants of all ages are welcome and will be eligible for dozens of prizes including a Grand Prize valued at $250 and a Youth Award valued at $100. Everyone is a winner! (Open to amateur bakers only.)

Contestants are asked to submit trays of six cupcakes along with a completed Contest Registration Form. The form asks for your full recipe, ingredients, and a brief story about your cupcakes.

The story could be about a person, place, or thing that inspired the recipe and decoration. Or what techniques you favored. Or the joy you had baking them. Was there a challenge you had to overcome in making your cupcake dream a reality? Tell us!

The content will take place RAIN or SHINE. Submissions are received from 10 a.m.–12 Noon on Saturday October 18 at the Bernie Milton Pavilion. The entries will then be judged by professionals from Ithaca’s bakeries and restaurants. Judging is based on cupcake taste, decoration, and originality. Winners will be announced at an Awards Ceremony at 3 p.m.

Prizes include 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place Awards, as well as the Youth Award for teens and pre-teens.

The 10th Annual Ithaca Cupcake Baking Contest is sponsored by Visions Federal Credit Union, Cayuga Health, Wegmans, and Well Said Media.

The contest is organized every year by The Sophie Fund, established in 2016 in memory of Cornell University art student Sophie Hack MacLeod to support mental health initiatives aiding young people.

Sophie’s passion for baking cupcakes inspired the launch of the first Ithaca Cupcake Baking Contest in 2016. At the time of her death by suicide at age 23, while on a medical leave of absence from Cornell, Sophie was active in Ithaca’s vibrant culinary scene. According to her family, she hoped to open her own bakery after completing her Cornell degree.