Content Warning: This article contains mentions of death.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, the Binghamton University Counseling Center’s urgent service line can be reached at (607) 777-2772, extension two. The Consultation, Advocacy, Referral and Education Team can be reached at (607) 777-2804. The “988” suicide and crisis lifeline provides free and confidential support for people in distress. Support Empathy Empowerment Kindness, a student-run helpline, can be reached at (607) 777-4357 and is open from 7 to 10 p.m. every day classes are in session.

An initiative at Binghamton University, “the Noah Project,” now known as the Connection Project, was launched last fall to promote campus mental health resources in honor of a student who lost his life in the spring of 2025.

The student, Noah, grew up in Brooklyn and was a junior majoring in economics with a specialization in economic analysis and a concentration in pre-law. At the University, Noah was involved in club sports, including men’s rugby, and was a member of the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity.

“Noah was someone who really spent his life trying to help other people,” Blake Goldstein, speaker of the Student Association Congress and a junior majoring in political science, said in an interview with Pipe Dream. “Even though he was struggling with so much and he was fighting his own battles, he always put other people first. He was an incredibly loving person.”

He alluded to Noah’s story as part of a much larger conversation involving young people and mental health, citing lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the widespread use of social media as just two examples of what might cause feelings of uncertainty and anxiety among college students today.

Goldstein, who is also a member of Alpha Epsilon Pi, shared that his fraternity hosted a philanthropic mental health awareness 5K in honor of Noah, which raised at least $3,456 last November, more than the initial $2,000 goal. All proceeds were donated to the National Alliance on Mental Health and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

“Mental health is something that is both personal to me and my fraternity, and a core reason that I ran for [SA] Congress in the first place,” said Jeremy Marcus, a member of Alpha Epsilon Pi and a junior double-majoring in political science and economics. “Initiatives such as the Noah Project — to highlight on-campus mental health resources — are especially important for those who are struggling and don’t know where to turn. Sometimes, it simply takes reaching out in order to save a life. I’m incredibly proud of the effort Blake has [put] into this project, and I look forward to the [Student Life and Academics] committee further rolling it out.”

Goldstein, who helped spearhead the initiative, hopes that passing it on to the Student Life and Academics committee will bring more “people power” to the project. Recognizing there are others with similar stories, Goldstein said Noah is the “roots” of the project, and the stories and experiences of others are its “leaves and branches” that build up its spirit of community and helping others.

Emily Landis, chair of the Student Life and Academics committee and a sophomore majoring in political science, told Pipe Dream that the committee launched the Connection Project, a slideshow presentation promoting mental health services for students, last semester. Emphasizing the Consultation, Advocacy, Referral and Education Team and the Binghamton Support Network as two important mental health resources, she said the committee has given the presentation to several on-campus organizations.

“The SLA Committee believes that seeking help for mental health struggles is not a sign of weakness but rather a sign of strength,” Landis said in a statement. “Through this campaign, we aim to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues and encourage more students to feel comfortable reaching out for help when needed. To further this goal, we emphasize the importance of providing feedback if a resource did not meet a student’s needs. This fosters self-advocacy in discussions about mental health and opens conversations about how the administration can better support students.”

In a statement to Pipe Dream, Noah’s father said his son was “a kind and compassionate person with an enormous heart” who “paid attention to the people around him and went out of his way to lift others up.”

“Like so many young people, Noah couldn’t see beyond the weight of what he was feeling,” Noah’s father wrote. “In moments of darkness, it can be impossible to imagine that life could look different — that healing, relief, or hope might exist on the other side of the pain.”

“Noah would have believed deeply in the mission of this organization: to raise awareness about the resources available to support people through life’s many challenges,” he continued. “Life is complicated. Sometimes we convince ourselves that we’re beyond help — that nothing can change. But that isn’t true. Help is real, and it can make a difference. Reaching out is hard, especially when you’re not sure it will matter. But it does.”

For students who may be struggling, mental health resources are available on campus, including the University Counseling Center, the CARE Team, the Psychological Clinic, the Victims Assistance & Rape Crisis Center and Support Empathy Empowerment Kindness, among others. The Binghamton Support Network can also be used as a search engine to help students find relevant resources on campus if they are not sure where to start.

“As a physician, I see people dedicate significant time and energy to their physical health,” Noah’s father continued. “To address our overall well-being, though, isn’t it equally essential to take care of your psychological and emotional health? For anyone who feels stuck in pain or believes that change isn’t possible: people can and do get better with the right support, offered by people who truly care. Those resources exist. That care exists. And most importantly — you matter.”

When asked if he had any advice for students, Goldstein emphasized the importance of seeking help.

“You are never alone for anything,” said Goldstein. “Everyone struggles. Everyone has their own battles that they’re fighting that we don’t know about. So it’s important to always be good to people, but also to know that you truly are never alone, and there is absolutely no shame at all in seeking out professional help or talking about it.”

Editor’s Note: Jeremy Marcus, a member of Alpha Epsilon Pi, is a former News writer for Pipe Dream. He had no part in the writing or editing of this article.