National recognition of institutions that commit to campus-wide integration of mental health initiatives, including accessible services, peer support, emotional resilience, and proactive policy.
Copiah-Lincoln Community College’s Press P.A.W.S Initiative has received the 2026 Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being Award from Insight Into Academia magazine. Co-Lin will be featured, along with 37 other nation-wide recipients, in the September 2026 issue of Insight Into Academia magazine. Co-Lin was the only Mississippi college or university to earn this national recognition.
The Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being Award is a measure of an institution’s individual programs and initiatives that significantly advance core values of student and employee mental health and well-being through programs, initiatives, and other campus priorities deserving of this national recognition.
“We spend a lot of time talking about student success in terms of retention, completion, and graduation, but there is a person behind every one of those numbers,” said Dr. Amanda Hood, Co-Lin Director of Institutional Effectiveness. “Press P.A.W.S. is about recognizing that students bring their whole lives with them to college and making sure support is there when life gets hard. We’re proud that this recognition reflects the kind of college we are continually working to be.”
Launched in 2024, Co-Lin’s Press P.A.W.S stands for Positively Advocating for Wolf Pack Success. Press P.A.W.S aims to increase student success by providing students with enhanced mental health support and services, empowering them through their social, physical, and emotional growth. The program offers Co-Lin students FREE, 24/7 access to virtual care services with TimelyCare, the virtual health and well-being platform, designed for college students. Both part-time and full-time Co-Lin students have access to scheduled counseling sessions, health coaching, 24/7 on-demand emotional support, and other self-care content. Students do not need insurance to access TimelyCare services. Student can learn more about creating their account and using TimelyCare services here: www.colin.edu/students/student-services/timelycare/.
“We know that institutions are not always recognized for their dedication to and prioritizing mental health and well-being services and support for their students and employees,” says Lenore Pearlstein, owner and publisher of Insight Into Academia magazine. “We are proud to honor the colleges and universities who are standouts as the need for these resources continues to grow substantially.”
For more information about the 2026 Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being Award, visit insightintoacademia.com.