The University of Wisconsin-Madison also promotes mental health through its Badger Support Network, which offers peer-led discussion groups and community events for all students8. Embedding mindfulness and self-care practices into the daily routines of students normalizes maintaining strong mental health as a continuous, regular endeavor. Building resilience and promoting overall wellness are key components of mental health initiatives that go beyond crisis care or counselling resources. Additionally, the process of training as counselors is valuable for students who are interested in future careers in mental healthcare or psychology to build applicable skills. By building these critical skills around early recognition and active listening, programs like this are not only helpful to individuals, but they contribute to a campus culture of wellbeing and community support. Below are examples of mental health programs and strategies being employed by different college campuses.
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Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) for substance use20 is an evidence-based model that has been tailored for use with college students (BASICS)21 and has more recently incorporated care for mental health concerns.22 Using this model, students receive a brief intervention at the college health or counseling center immediately following a positive screening. By providing students with the tools and resources to manage their stress and improve their mental health, colleges can enhance their overall well-being and academic performance. As SSM/Vs have a number of identities and https://www.campusdrugprevention.gov/views-from-the-field/addressing-substance-misuse-campus-together may seek support through a number of campus services, online directories and resources that inform students, as well as faculty and staff who may be asked for guidance, of which services are available and where can help students navigate the full range of available support. Access to additional services and extended hours can make programs and support more accessible to post-traditional students, but the research on the mental health and wellbeing of these students remains limited (Cadigan et al., 2020; Iarovici, 2014). Providing wellbeing programs that help individuals retain healthy life habits, workshops that focus on reducing stigma around seeking mental health services, and policies that protect students from overwork can provide students with multiple levels to seek assistance. As colleges and universities seek to support student-athletes, they may consider providing support services and wellbeing programs located on the athletic campus or closer to training facilities.
Graduate & Postdoctural Students
Seeing where food is grown can help students understand their schools’ connection to the earth and their own connection to health and nutrition. On-site gardens can empower culinary teams to use locally-sourced ingredients while teaching students about sustainable food practices; promoting mindfulness and wellbeing. These spaces can be a useful, multi-functional swing space for your campus that promotes overall enjoyment at meal times, and help students feel closer to nature. The podcast studio launched in fall 2023, with library staff offering tours and orientations to help students engage with the space. The University of Dayton created multimedia production space within the Roesch Library on campus in 2019, and more recently added a podcast studio, to give students a place to learn digital production skills. Neurodiverse student enrollment in NYU’s Moses Center Connections Program has grown 45 percent over the past three years, and this space can help accommodate learners who face additional barriers to academic success.
Educational demands and professional development may cause stress to graduate students, notably if the existing academic, career, and wellbeing resources on campus feel geared to an undergraduate audience. The concepts of wellbeing and mental health, for example, may differ considerably depending on the students’ country of origin, and international students utilize counseling services at lower rates and are less likely to return after an intake appointment (Alexander and Iarovici, 2018). For these students, the important factor regarding mental health is that they often lack the benefits of family members who can provide institutional knowledge on how to navigate the bureaucracy of higher education and its services. Given that students with disabilities are not a monolith, faculty and staff supporting these students will want to approach mental health and identity issues with sensitivity (Iarovici, 2014). In the context of higher education, a mental health disability is defined as “a persistent psychological or psychiatric disorder, emotional or mental illness that adversely affects educational performance.” To comply with ADA, campuses must provide accommodations commensurate with the range of disabilities that students experience.
UChicago Student Wellness is committed to promoting the mental health and well-being of UChicago undergraduate and graduate students by providing accessible, high-quality, culturally sensitive mental health services. However, to avoid potentially expensive health care bills for off-campus medical care, all students are required to maintain health insurance coverage while attending Manhattan University. The app is available in English and Spanish and provides preventative care and early intervention behavioral health coaching, peer support and self-guided resources. UC has resources to support the ongoing and immediate health and well-being needs of our students. UC has health and well-being services and resources for all students.
- Stress management resources, mindfulness programs, and meditation spaces are also becoming more common components of higher education mental health strategies.
- The fact that Iowa’s recreation offerings are wellness-focused also helps those outside of students.
- Learn about campus tours, explore our campus map, find parking, learn more about sustainable transportation and discover accessible options to get on and around campus.
- Nurture your whole self in and out of the classroom with help from our on-campus and virtual wellness resources.
- Colleges can recruit and train student leaders to organize wellness events, lead exercise classes, and facilitate support groups.
