Many colleges and universities are seeking to address student mental health through a public health approach, which involves a broad range of resources, practices, and policies aimed at promoting the well-being of all students. However, the challenge lies in determining which strategies are truly effective.
In collaboration with Dr. Sarah Ketchen Lipson and Dr. Daniel Eisenberg, we conducted a comprehensive review titled “Mental Health in College Populations: A Multidisciplinary Review of What Works, Evidence Gaps, and Paths Forward.”
This review brought together insights from various academic fields and journals, evaluating the effectiveness of different campus interventions for mental health.
We’ve summarized our findings in a brief for the American Council on Education (ACE), where we offer key takeaways and highlight recommendations to help higher education leaders make informed, evidence-based decisions in their investments towards student mental health.
As the mental health crisis on campuses continues to grow, it’s essential that institutions have access to effective strategies grounded in research.
Following the widespread interest in our initial webinar on improving mental health in higher education, we co-hosted a second session with The Healthy Minds Network, moderated by Dr. Hollie Chesman from ACE.
This session addressed numerous questions about the specifics of various program categories, effective implementation strategies, the role of administrators and policymakers, and the influence of funders in supporting evidence-based approaches.
In collaboration with Drs. Eisenberg and Lipson, we will continue to work on resources throughout the upcoming year. One key resource coming in early 2024 is a guide on digital interventions to promote mental health, developed with support from the Ruderman Family Foundation.
Until then, below are several resources and learning tools that were highlighted during our webinars. As always, we welcome your input and encourage you to share any tools you’ve found helpful for understanding the evidence behind student mental health interventions.
