How colleges can better aid students holistically

These findings are supported by Atalay et al. and Alyahyan and Düştegör in the sense that students in health sciences experience overwhelming academic stress due to high academic demands, pressure to succeed, high workloads and financial burdens. Support approaches related to adjustment to university life, especially for first-year students, were recommended as an important service to prepare them for academic life and studying for a university degree. Food security and access to opportunities for supporting physical and mental health were identified as important enablers conducive to positive learning, alleviating stress and promoting academic success. This theme deals with a combination of factors that pose difficulties for students to access support services at the university. This theme focuses on students’ experiences related to factors prompting the need to seek support from wellness support services offered by the two universities. University 1, situated in an urban area, provides comprehensive services, including but not limited to student health and wellness services, psychological and emotional support services, disability services, as well as academic and career support.

. Educational/personalised feedback interventions

Visit our Solutions page for more information and discover how we can help enhance your campus mental health initiatives. When evaluating a digital mental health provider, it’s important to assess your current offerings and determine what factors are most important for your campus. Partnering with third-party providers allows institutions to expand their services, provide more specialized care, and ensure students’ various needs are being met. As you consider growing and strengthening your program, pay attention to students’ demands, gaps in your existing services, and opportunities for connecting students to greater levels of care. Research has found structured physical activity and mindfulness can both have a positive impact on college student mental health. On-campus fitness centers, recreational sports, and wellness challenges promote exercise and stress reduction.

While many of these stressors may align with the normative growth and development issues common to young adults, graduate programs may benefit from providing specialized support services that allow students to build stress management and coping mechanisms that will benefit them throughout their studies and into future roles. 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. Beyond providing support that aligns with the needs of international students and students without documentation, there are also unique stressors that can affect their lives and mental health, as well as their ability to pursue their studies. In addition to providing culturally competent programs and services to students, colleges and universities may consider how they communicate, raise awareness, and reduce stigma around mental health specifically for students who are BIPOC. As students from these groups continue to enter higher education at higher rates, colleges and universities hoping to support students from admission to graduation may consider investing in programs and services Addressing campus substance misuse together that provide support specific to these students.

Maroon Mental Health Matters

• In addition to international students, there is a population of undocumented students attending U.S. colleges and universities.
• Support approaches related to adjustment to university life, especially for first-year students, were recommended as an important service to prepare them for academic life and studying for a university degree.
• Around half of college student rate their campus wellness facilities and services good or excellent.
• Build essential skills for your studies, including time management, academic writing, and research techniques.
• The codes were then organised into subthemes and themes to reflect the participants’ experiences of student support services ).

Wexer makes it easy to provide physical fitness, mindfulness, and meditation sessions accessible 24/7. This will provide opportunities for them to connect with like-minded peers, fostering a sense of belonging and support. Universities can promote satisfying relationships through social clubs, extracurricular activities, physical fitness programs, community engagement, and inclusion programs.

These elements not only improve the well-being of individuals but also contribute to a more productive and resilient academic community. A culture of trust and empathy is central to fostering well-being in academic settings. To build a supportive environment, leaders should facilitate open discussions about well-being during departmental meetings and create safe spaces in which everyone feels valued and heard. Administrative and academic leaders and department heads have a critical role in nurturing a culture of well-being within their institutions. Academic leaders should be empowered to take strong actions to support a culture of well-being.

By being involved in the development of these services, you can see the direct impact of your feedback and feel a sense of ownership. This approach is far more dynamic and responsive than the traditional, cumbersome survey methods that may take too long to address immediate student concerns. Working with staff, you can help review and refine survey questions to ensure they capture the most relevant and insightful data. Find out about the specialist support and advice we provide for those facing homelessness or affected by war, conflict and disaster. Find out about the support available both within and outside of UCL.

Additionally, successful wellness programs should be both readily accessible and easy for participants to join. Campus stakeholders at all levels—top leaders, employees, and students—have a crucial role in fostering a strong wellness culture and environment. This is especially true for campus communities, in which a positive culture can improve the lives of students, faculty, and staff. People who feel supported and valued at work experience less burnout, depression, stress, and anxiety.