Frequent Links
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Help Lines
DialHelp:
Call 906-482-4357 or 800-562-7622. Text 35NEEDS or 906-356-3337. Chat online at dialhelp.org.
National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:
Call or text 988
Pathways Community Mental Health:
Call 888-728-4929
Marquette County Crisis Line:
Call 888-728-4929
Veteran’s Crisis Line:
Call 800-273-8255 and press 1. Text 838 255. Chat online at veteranscrisisline.net
"Find a healthy work-school-life balance, develop positive self-care, and reach out if you need to talk. You are not alone."
Jennifer Gorton
Licensed Professional Counselor and Assistant Professor at NMU
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The Okanagan Charter
Northern Michigan University is committed to embedding wellbeing into the culture at NMU, and to do that to the fullest extent, on April 26, 2023, President Brock Tessman signed the Okanagan Charter.
The Okanagan Charter is a landmark document that serves as a guide for educational institutions worldwide to prioritize and enhance the health and well-being of their students, faculty, staff, and communities. It was first developed and endorsed at the International Conference on Health Promoting Universities and Colleges in 2015, held in the Okanagan region of British Columbia, Canada.
The Okanagan Charter recognizes that the pursuit of health and well-being is not just the absence of illness but a holistic approach encompassing physical, mental, social, and spiritual dimensions. It emphasizes the vital connection between individual well-being and the health of the broader community and environment. The charter encourages a collaborative approach, engaging multiple stakeholders within and beyond the academic community to create healthier and more sustainable environments.
The New NMU WellBeing Center
Northern Michigan University’s Wellbeing Center is newly constructed and now houses the NMU Health Center and the Counseling and Consultation Services Center under one roof. Dedicated to integrating health and wellness into the culture at Northern, and increasing accessibility to wellbeing for all, the new building is located near The Woods residential area and Northern Lights Dining Facility, includes dedicated parking off of Lincoln Avenue, and opened on June 26, 2023.
Campus Reports
Summaries, reports and overviews of campus mental health resources and other facilities:
Wellbeing Staff
Abigail Kauffman Wyche, PhD, MSW
Special Advisor for Campus Wellbeing
Abigail is a social worker specializing in policy, planning, and administration, having earned her BSW, MSW, and Ph.D. from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. Before joining NMU in 2012, she’d held several positions leading systems-level change and promoting holistic wellbeing. Her work included serving as Coordinator of the City of Richmond’s first Child Advocacy Center, which relies on a multi-disciplinary, trauma-informed approach to the investigation of child abuse; and, as Executive Director of a Virginia-wide emergency foster care agency.
In 2014, Abigail became the Head of the Social Work Department at NMU, transitioning the BSW Program into an independent academic department, and establishing the only accredited MSW program in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Abigail has been a member of the President’s Committee on Gender and Sexuality, and is currently the co-chair of the President’s Committee on Diversity. She’s been a member of the Board of Directors at the Women’s Center of Marquette and Alger Counties for the last six years, including two as Board President.
