A Tallahassee-based student housing property is launching an on-site wellness program that’s intended to bring access to mental health resources where college students live.
The idea is the brainchild of Harris Schwartzberg, a former healthcare executive who now owns GrandMarc at Tallahassee — a five-story student housing property on the corner of Brevard and West Tennessee streets.
Since selling his company, he founded another company called Two Bridge that’s a healthcare platform incorporating live events and community engagement. Through this company, Schwartzberg said it’s the means that allowed him to pour more time and attention into mental health initiatives.
“My idea with doing this with students and student housing is because of the demand, not the demand for student housing,” he said, “but the issues surrounding mental health. It’s the no. 1 issue that every kid on college campuses are dealing with and it crosses over race and religion and finance. It doesn’t matter.”
It’s personal for him, given that his brother, now dead, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He wanted this next chapter of his life to be spent helping others in a meaningful way.
“He had fought with bipolar disorder his whole life, ” said Schwartzberg in an interview with the Tallahassee Democrat. “When he passed away, I said, ‘You know, I’ve been doing great in business, and we’ve built some amazing businesses. But how do we help people?’ “
GrandMarc is in early talks to work in collaboration with Florida State University’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and is slated to bring several wellness initiatives.
Some of them include mandatory mental health First Aid training for all GrandMarc staff, soundproof wellness booths that offer privacy for virtual therapy sessions or focused studying and a calendar of onsite wellness programming and peer support training.
Schwartzberg commissioned contemporary artist Peter Tunney to create and install a permanent collection of 25 giant curated works with uplifting messages throughout the property.
The art, Schwartzberg said, help create an environment that drives home the importance of mental health care with vibrant messaging that portray resilience, optimism and self-discovery. Most important, he said he’s trying to connect students with professionals who can help them.
“The schools actually have amazing programming and resources, but a lot of the kids don’t know about it, and then they find out about it, you know, when they’re in dire need,” Schwartzberg said, adding his company is in talks to bring wellness effort to more student housing properties.
“This is just pure passion. We’re not doing this at these properties because it’s good business,” he added. “We’re doing it because it really has to be done.”
Contact Economic Development Reporter TaMaryn Waters at [email protected] and follow @TaMarynWaters on X.
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