Bucknell has officially launched MANUAL, a mental health and wellness app designed to provide support and resources to young men. Spearheaded by Lars Kikoski, a senior philosophy major and former president of Bucknell’s Interfraternity Council (IFC), the initiative aims to create an accessible and private platform for fraternity members and other male-identifying students seeking guidance on mental health, personal finance, fitness and substance abuse, among other concerns.
Kikoski first discovered MANUAL after attending a talk at Bucknell by social psychologist Richard Reeves. “I was really struck by Richard Reeves’ talk,” Kikoski shared. “He discussed the struggles affecting young men today, particularly in relation to mental health and college enrollment.” Intrigued by Reeves’ work, Kikoski later learned that he had partnered with MANUAL, a platform dedicated to supporting young men’s well-being.
What followed was an unexpected turn of events. “A couple of weeks later, I received a message on LinkedIn from the founder of the app. He probably saw my role as IFC president on my profile and reached out. After learning more about the platform and its impact at other universities, I knew I wanted to explore it further. It felt like a great opportunity to bring something meaningful to Bucknell.”
This initial interest turned into a months-long effort to bring MANUAL to Bucknell’s campus. Kikoski worked closely with administrators, including Nellie Forker in the Fraternity and Sorority Affairs (FSA) office, to ensure the app aligned with Bucknell’s values and student needs.
“We spent a lot of time in meetings and getting feedback from offices on campus,” Kikoski shared. “The process took about four to five months, but I’m really glad it came together and that we got the support we needed from the administration.” Since its official launch last week, MANUAL has already garnered positive feedback from students.
Kikoski highlighted that one of the app’s most valuable attributes is the private, one-on-one communication options with professional counselors. “The one-on-one communication with counselors is by far the standout feature,” Kikoski said. “It’s a way to talk about things that might be difficult to share with friends or chapter members and I think it’ll make a big difference for many people. It’s also incredibly accessible, students can open the app and start a private conversation with a coach simply by clicking a button.”
In addition to counseling, the app offers a wealth of resources, such as Zoom webinars with speakers like Reeves. Kikoski believes these features will help fraternity members and other Bucknell students better manage personal challenges.
Kikoski hopes that MANUAL will become an essential part of Greek life at Bucknell, particularly for fraternities’ educational programming. “I think it could be a great addition to our chapter accreditation process,” Kikoski suggested. “It’s an easy way for students to engage with wellness topics they care about. The coaches have extensive experience working with college-aged men, so the content is tailored specifically to their needs.”
He continued, “I’d love to see this become a core component of the All Greek education events we have on campus. Having this tool available when something happens – whether it’s a personal issue or anything else – will provide students with a way to get support.”
Kikoski’s drive to bring MANUAL to Bucknell was deeply influenced by the tragic loss of his fraternity brother, Christian Samay, last spring. Samay’s passing left a lasting impact on the Greek community and the university at large, reinforcing Kikoski’s belief in the importance of accessible mental health resources.
“Losing Christian really shook us all,” Kikoski said. “It was something that affected the whole school. That’s when I realized how much something like MANUAL could help. Mental health support needs to be there when you least expect it and I wanted to make sure that resource was available to people.”
When asked what advice he would give to other IFC leaders looking to implement similar wellness initiatives, Kikoski offered an encouraging message: “I would say, just go for it! I really wanted to leave a positive mark on the community. If you see the need for a resource like this, don’t hesitate to bring it to your campus. It’s a tool that can make a real difference.”
Kikoski encouraged students to explore MANUAL and see how it could benefit them. “Give it a try. Be open-minded. Even if you’re unsure at first, you never know how something might improve your day-to-day life.”
As MANUAL gains momentum at Bucknell, Kikoski hopes it will provide a much-needed resource for students, empowering them to manage their mental health and well-being with confidence and support.
