The PERCH Initiative: A Model for Transdisciplinary Education at the Nexus of Creative Expression, Mental Health Advocacy, and Environmental Sustainability

¹ Central Connecticut State University, College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, Graphic/Information Design, New Britain, USA
² Central Connecticut State University, College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, New Britain, USA

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

The PERCH Initiative offers a hands-on model of education that centers lived experience voices to explore the intersections of mental health, creative expression, and environmental sustainability. Through collaborative work on The Perch journal, students and faculty from design, health, and the arts come together to create, edit, and publish stories that address real-world issues such as addiction, climate grief, and social disconnection. Volume 7, titled “Substance”, showcases how this process fosters healing, empathy, and inclusion while amplifying voices often left out of public conversations. By combining storytelling, civic engagement, and sustainable practices, PERCH demonstrates how higher education can support student well-being and com- munity resilience in meaningful, creative ways.