The Support Network (TSN), a 501(c)(3) non-profit advancing student mental health, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Steven Bender to the Board of Directors. As a Board Member, Steve will draw from his extensive experience in law and healthcare to provide guidance on matters of governance and organizational strategy as TSN strives to bring peer support to more students across the country.
Mr. Bender is Geisinger Health’s Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer and is responsible for the organization’s legal affairs, including providing legal guidance to the board of directors and executive leadership and guiding the company in regulatory matters.
Prior to joining Geisinger, Mr. Bender served for four years as General Counsel for George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates.
Mr. Bender earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and his law degree from Michigan State University College of Law. He is past Chair of the State Bar of Michigan’s Healthcare Law Section and a member of the American Health Lawyers Association.
“Steven Bender’s addition to the Board of Directors represents an opportunity for The Support Network to further our growth as an organization. His background in legal affairs and health administration will add valuable expertise as TSN continues to establish itself a leader in student mental health programming .” - TSN’s Board of Directors
Rising rates of young adult mental illness have been well-documented, even before the pandemic. In 2019, the NIH estimated that close to one third of 18-25 year-olds struggled with their mental health, the highest prevalence in any age group. The impact of COVID-19 only exacerbated the existing crisis and highlighted the need for accessible mental health programming. In the most recent Healty Minds Survey, 44% of college students reported symptoms of depression; 37% said they experienced anxiety; and 15% said they were considering suicide—the highest rate in the 15-year history of the survey.
In 2023 Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declared loneliness and isolation a public health crisis given its link to heart disease, stroke, dementia, and premature death, including from suicide. A report by Gallup and the Lumina Foundation found that 40% of college students had recently considered dropping out of school, with “emotional stress” cited as the most common reason. But there is hope: students themselves are in a unique position to normalize mental illness and reduce stigma amongst their peers, dismantling cultural barriers while providing community to one another. The obstacles that can prevent students from seeking on-campus treatment—wait times, insurance concerns, stigma—are mitigated in a free and accessible peer-to-peer format, with peers able to refer one another to clinical services and act as a first line of prevention in a campus’ efforts to improve student wellbeing. According to one student, “Joining [TSN’s program] was one of the best things I’ve ever done in my entire life.”
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About The Support Network
The Support Network (TSN) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that helps address and promote student mental health and well-being through the launch and development of peer support initiatives in high schools and colleges. Our model empowers students across the country to create an inclusive community and support each other’s identity, mental well-being, and day-to-day lives through peer-facilitated groups and bi-weekly community events. We provide the blueprint and advisory to launch an effective peer-to-peer support model with student Leaders, working jointly with administrators.
Currently, TSN has partnered with 8 college campuses and 1 high-school. In total, this represents thousands of student participants, 200+ trained facilitators, and ~50 student Directors that are making a difference on their campus and beyond.
For more information or press inquiries, please visit thesupportnetwork.org.