In the wake of the tragic shooting that occurred on February 13 last year at Michigan State University (MSU), the institution has taken a significant step to aid in the healing process of their community. MSU has announced that the Spartan Strong Fund will provide reimbursements for mental health services to students, faculty, staff, and first responders, according to The Detroit News. The fund, which has accrued more than $2 million thanks to generous contributions from over 4,200 donors, will allocate a quarter of its resources, amounting to $500,000, specifically for this purpose.
WILX reports that those eligible can now seek reimbursement for a variety of out-of-pocket expenses including deductibles, co-pays, or coinsurance associated with outpatient counseling, mental health care services encompassing telehealth, in-patient hospitalization with a mental health diagnosis and residential mental health treatment, so long as their own insurance coverage has been exhausted.
The school's administration emphasizes the importance of addressing mental health in the aftermath of such events, with Assistant Provost and UHW Executive Director Alexis Travis saying, “Utilizing the Spartan Strong Fund to support mental health services for students, staff, faculty, and first responders affected by Feb. 13 is critical for facilitating their journey towards recovery,” The application process for reimbursements opened on January 24, and will continue to accept requests for the coming three years or as long as funds last, highlighted in a statement obtained by WXYZ.
Interim MSU President Teresa Woodruff expressed her gratitude towards those who contributed to the Spartan Strong Fund, acknowledging the pivotal role mental health services play in the recovery process,“We are forever grateful to the generosity of thousands of people who helped our community on a path to healing through the Spartan Strong Fund,” she stated, according to WILX coverage.
