Over the past year, 41% of the more than 75,000 students surveyed reported having major or minor depression, 36% reported having an anxiety disorder and 14% had suicidal thoughts.
This key conclusion of Healthy Minds Study 2022-2023 by the Healthy Minds Network (HMN), an adolescent and young adult research organization focused on mental health, highlights the need for mental health supports for students.
In response to this national problem, colleges and universities, leaders, researchers and organizations are developing innovative ways to reduce mental health stigma, advance conversations, revise institutional policies and expand programs to better support the university community.
Recent efforts by two leaders, Dartmouth College and HMN, are doing just that. An event at Dartmouth, combined with the university’s new strategic plan, is bringing national attention to the topic and informing policies and programs across campus. Additionally, HMN is creating a digital collaborative resource that showcases data-driven mental health initiatives proven to be effective in higher education.
Dartmouth College
Last fall, Dartmouth College, the Geisel School of Medicine and the C. Everett Koop Institute at Dartmouth Health Medical Center brought the discussion of student mental health to the forefront by hosting a panel led by CNN correspondent Sanjay Gupta, MD, who convened eight general surgeons to discuss ways colleges and universities can support their academic communities. This historic moment marked the first time in 25 years that all living surgeons general gathered in one place for a common purpose.
This has raised awareness of the academic pressure and stress students face, says Lisa McBride, PhD, associate dean of DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion), professor of medical education at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, and Insight Into Diversity. member of the editorial board.
“I think (the event) actually increased the need for us as administrators, and particularly university presidents, to focus on student mental health. … When I thought about this (panel), I didn’t know the impact it would have,” McBride says.
Current Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and his predecessors met with Dartmouth student leaders and spoke on the panel on a wide range of topics related to the issue of mental health, including stigma, campus support, early diagnosis and treatment. They also hosted a panel discussion on the future of healthcare, hosted at the Geisel School of Medicine, where they discussed a variety of topics including healthcare worker burnout and inequities in the healthcare system .
“I think one discussion alone is not going to solve the problem,” says Antonia Novello, MD, the first woman and first Hispanic person to serve as surgeon general of the United States. “After this conference, many students will talk about their problems, and then the institution must be ready to address (those problems) when it is necessary.
Since the panel, McBride has continued to build momentum through collaborations between students, general surgeons, higher education institutions and leaders in the field.
Dartmouth worked with the Jed Foundation (JED), a nonprofit organization that protects emotional health and works to prevent suicide among adolescents and young adults, to develop Commitment to Care, a strategic plan for new initiatives on the campus released in October. Campus-wide focus groups informed the project, which prioritizes improving mental health outcomes.
As a result, Dartmouth has revised institutional policies, such as expanding the medical leave policy and eliminating overnight fees at the Dartmouth College Health Service inpatient department/nursing. More than 440 faculty and staff were trained last year to advocate for student mental health and well-being. Yoga and meditation opportunities are offered throughout campus to support emotional well-being.
“The most important thing to remember is that mental health is equal to physical health. … It’s okay to not be okay. But it’s not okay for you to stay like this.
– Antonia Novello, MD
Geisel School of Medicine students also have free access to campus in-person counseling and teletherapy services. Digital offerings help recruit more mental health professionals of color so that underrepresented students feel comfortable speaking about topics like racial trauma, McBride says.
These policies aim to decrease the particularly low rates of mental health service use among students of color across the country. The highest annual processing rate over the past year for Asian, Black and Latino students was equal to or lower than the lowest rate for white students, according to the report “Trends in college student mental health and help-seeking by race/ethnicity: Results from the National Healthy Minds Study, 2013-2021.” »
Macri Gil Diaz, a third-year medical student, uses advice from the medical school. Diaz was an advocate for mental health on campus in her previous role as co-president of the Latino Medical Student Association, and currently serves as academic co-president of the Geisel School of Medicine student government.
It’s critical that colleges consider students’ learning and working environments when tailoring their resources, Diaz says. For medical students, it can be difficult to manage counseling appointments due to obstacles such as clinical and study schedule changes.
“I still go to therapy every week…it’s the only thing that has helped me succeed not only personally, but also academically,” she says.
Healthy Minds Network
To further assist colleges and universities, HMN and the Mary Christie Institute are developing a digital repository focused on successful preventive interventions, including policies, programs and services that address student mental health in higher education. HMN researchers synthesize available data and evidence to create a best practice resource.
The project was motivated by a lack of information on population-wide approaches to student mental health, says Daniel Eisenberg, PhD, professor of health policy and management at the University of California, Los Angeles. Angeles and principal investigator for HMN. Additionally, digital products, such as training programs, are new, less regulated and more difficult to evaluate.
Interventions that are experiential or focused on active learning tend to be the most effective, he says. Accordingly, HMN will also create an active learning network for experts, peer researchers and campus leaders to strengthen collaboration and advance effective programs on campuses across the country.
Eisenberg predicts that the first report, a guide to digital mental health interventions, will be completed in March.
Resources for students seeking help
National:
- Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988.
- Crisis Text Line: Text “COALITION” to 741741.
- TrevorSpace: an affirming online community for LGBTQ+ students.
On the campus:
- Research your college’s counseling services, hours, and locations.
- Talk to the Resident Advisor (RA) in your dorm.
- Reach out to trusted friends.
Information provided by the Mental Health Coalition.
Overall, world events are drawing attention to the issue of student mental health, Eisenberg says.
“But at the same time…mental health has always been a major concern for students and really (for everyone),” he said. “I think it’s more of an increased awareness and attention to the subject, now more than ever.”
Additional support
Colleges and universities aiming to deepen their mental health support You can start by reviewing the general guidelines provided by JED. Among JED’s list of actions are identifying at-risk students, providing mental health and substance abuse services, increasing help-seeking behaviors, promoting social connections, and following procedures for crisis management.
Although clinical services are important, many students may benefit from other forms of care, such as group or peer programs and wellness coaching, Eisenberg says. Additionally, clear guidance on accessing mental health resources can be a priority in university communications.
DEI can also be considered alongside the well-being and mental health needs of students.
“For example, a sense of belonging on campus can be good for mental health and it is also important for issues of equity and inclusion. … Ideally, campuses think about where these areas intersect,” Eisenberg says.
Beyond institutional support, Novello says it’s critical for friends to check in on each other and watch for signs of distress, such as trouble sleeping, changes in eating habits, or loneliness. Community support encourages those who are struggling to seek help.
“The most important thing to remember is that mental health equals physical health…It’s okay to not be okay,” she says. “But it’s not okay for you to stay like this.”
To learn more, visit mental health.dartmouth.edu And healthymindsnetwork.org.
This article was published in our January/February 2024 issue.
Above: Dartmouth College medical students talk with Antonia Novello, MD, the first woman and first Latina to serve as surgeon general of the United States (Photo courtesy of Rob Strong)
