Supporting Mental Health On Campus: A Holistic Approach To Cultivating Wellness

In recent years, anxiety disorders have become more prevalent among our students.  Many students with significant anxiety seek treatment from campus mental health practitioners, but it is becoming a more frequent occurrence that students disclose and seek support from non-clinical professionals on campus, including faculty, residential life staff and advisors.  How should one respond when a student shares that s/he/they “have anxiety”?  A referral to the counseling center may be unnecessary, as the student may already be using that service.  The student is seeking understanding, empathy, and perhaps accommodation.  But should non-clinical staff engage with students around mental health concerns?  If so, what do those staff and faculty members need to understand about anxiety disorders and their treatment?

• Learn about common anxiety disorders, their increased prevalence and related challenges
• Learn several techniques and strategies for responding to students whose anxiety is hindering their academic work and social interactions, including ways to effectively set limits and offer support

Join our webinar to explore three significant research projects focused on well-being at college campuses, especially for faculty and staff. Through studies by the American College Health Foundation and Aetna Student Health, learn about the impact of diverse student bodies, hybrid learning environments, and current socio-political challenges on well-being.

We'll cover the landscape of campus wellness efforts, how well-being is measured for the academic community, and insights from nearly 8,000 survey responses on enhancing campus well-being. Gain valuable knowledge on faculty and staff well-being trends and leave with practical, evidence-based interventions to improve your and your colleagues' mental health and overall wellness.

• Describe the shift to a holistic well-being approach on college campuses
• Outline the core constructs of a well-being measurement tool for faculty, staff, and students
• Discuss key findings and takeaways from a multi-series well-being survey initiative with an emphasis on faculty and staff
  
• Identify at least one mental health or well-being intervention to support themselves or a colleague

This webinar is designed for administrators and advisors, focusing on the common causes of stress faced by advisors and effective coping strategies. Advisors often support others through a variety of challenges, including academic issues, life changes, identity questions, and employment concerns. This support extends beyond professional boundaries, as advisors also deal with their personal stresses such as weather, financial concerns, and family issues.

The webinar aims to address these challenges by offering practical tips to combat stress, incorporating humor, honesty, and real-life examples. Participants will also have the opportunity to create a personalized stress reduction plan, ensuring they can effectively manage their own stress while continuing to support others.

• Explore the common causes of advisor stress, focusing on recognizing personal triggers unique to each individual.
• Investigate how advisor stress manifests within the office environment, exploring its effects on professional interactions and productivity.
• Prioritize and address areas where work-related stress creates significant challenges, aiming for a healthier balance.
• Discover and discuss practical strategies for administrators and advisors to alleviate stress, including proactive and reactive measures.
• Develop a customized stress reduction plan, tailored to their needs and circumstances, for sustainable stress management.

This webinar is for higher education professionals interested in deepening their understanding of mental health issues facing college students today. The presenters will take an in-depth look at substance abuse disorders to help attendees understand the specifics of the diagnoses, how it presents, what symptoms to look out for, and current evidence-based treatment models used in the field today. Additionally, participants will gain insight into the Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM 5), the go-to reference manual for all mental health professionals, provided in the field today. This webinar is perfect for someone who struggles with a mental health disorder, knows someone who does, or wants a better understanding of the diagnosis. 

• Understand the fundamentals of mental health and wellness
• Learn the specific symptoms and risk factors for substance abuse disorders
• Learn specific strategies for intervening and supporting students with these mental health concerns
• Know about the most up-to-date treatments available

College student mental health should be an institution-wide responsibility. If various areas within a College/University each respond to the issue of college student mental health in a targeted way, we can better tackle the totality of this concern. This session is intended for faculty and instructional staff who acknowledge the presence of college student mental distress and want to play an active role in creating classroom practices that support student mental health while also upholding academic integrity.

• Review trends associated with college student mental health.
• Review common signs and symptoms of mental distress and how to recognize these behaviours in the classroom.
• Learn how to identify, support, and refer students in distress.
• Review the relationship between supporting student wellness and upholding academic integrity.
• Discuss preventative strategies to support mental health and wellness in the classroom and how to handle distressing situations as they arise.

Amidst rising concerns for student mental health and well-being on campus, a multitude of resources are being introduced by institutions across varied platforms. Even as counseling centers expand their capacities and reinforce early intervention, they still find themselves stretched to the limit. In this context, campus communities must adopt strategies that efficiently link students with the appropriate level of care based on their immediate needs.

We'll delve into the merits of adopting a comprehensive stepped-care approach for bolstering student mental health and wellness. This approach seamlessly directs individuals to the most beneficial yet least intensive treatments, always keeping in mind the individualistic requirements of students. By implementing such a model, campuses can optimize their mental health resources, enhance accessibility through a "no wrong door" approach, and amplify engagement, health results, and academic achievement. Attendees will be given an in-depth look into the Whole Campus Care approach through a case study that will include actionable suggestions and valuable insights that can be easily adapted and integrated into any campus setting.

• Reflect upon participants’ campus strengths and growth edges in respect to mental health and wellness offerings.
• Analyze the benefits, as well as challenges, of offering multiple modality student support services on campus aimed at supporting mental health and well-being.
• Evaluate the benefits of implementing a stepped-care model to decrease stigma, increase student engagement, and maximize available mental health and well-being resources to support student health and subsequent success.

Students can effectively develop their mental health skills by actively engaging in experiential practice rather than solely acquiring theoretical knowledge. This workshop offers a comprehensive set of ten micro-strategies that can seamlessly integrate into various learning environments. The lifelong tasks of regulating attention (including both focusing and shifting) and managing mood align with the values of holistic education, emphasizing the development of the whole person. Many students grapple with harsh self-criticism, a common mental habit that significantly correlates with various mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, stress, eating disorders, substance use, and self-harm. However, a wealth of research demonstrates that targeted practice of specific mental techniques can effectively reduce self-criticism, improve attention, and enhance overall well-being.

Classroom settings provide an ideal opportunity to practice evidence-based mental regulation techniques within the context where such skills are most crucial. These micro-strategies, which only require a minute or two, yield powerful benefits in terms of students' attention and well-being. Regardless of their background or training, educators from all disciplines can incorporate these micro-strategies into their classes. Students are more likely to engage enthusiastically with mental health skills training when it is integrated into the core course material and incorporated into graded assignments, rather than being presented as an additional or optional component. Given that most students can benefit from increasing their mental awareness and control, cultivating these capacities supports both students who encounter difficulties and those who do not. Furthermore, some students may struggle internally while appearing well externally, underscoring the importance of addressing mental health across the board.

During the workshop, Dr. Turow will provide a thorough overview of the evidence supporting each micro-strategy, inviting participants to silently practice the techniques for one or two minutes on their own. This hands-on approach reflects the essential nature of teaching these skills as embodied practices. By the end of the workshop, participants can choose two micro-strategies that best resonate with their own situations and preferences. They will then create a plan outlining how they will incorporate teaching these new skills within their specific classroom contexts.

• Explore research explaining how interventions that include supervised skills practice can improve students’ mental health and well-being.
• Examine connections among different types of attention (focusing vs. shifting), motivation, and mental health.
• Apply evidence-based techniques to reduce personal self-criticism and to generate self-compassion and well-being.
• Identify potential obstacles to incorporating new skills and practices into the classroom and investigate ways to manage those obstacles.
• Specify at least two specific techniques that reflect the best fit for your own teaching context.
• Create a plan for how you will implement teaching at least two skills in a manner that is integrated with your other teaching goals and content.

In today's ever-changing landscape of diverse student populations, hybrid academic environments, and tumultuous socio-political climates, it can often be a challenge to support the well-being of students. This webinar aims to delve into a series of comprehensive national studies conducted by the American College Health Foundation and Aetna Student Health. After attending this webinar, you will better understand the complexities of establishing a thriving and enduring campus community.

Within this informative session, we will examine three specific studies in detail. The initial research sought to explore the broader panorama of wellness initiatives on college campuses. The second paper shifted its focus towards measuring the well-being not only of students but also faculty and staff within higher education institutions. Finally, by analyzing nearly 8,000 participants' responses on various campuses across America, the third study provides valuable insights into effectively supporting well-being throughout an entire campus community.

The speaker will share these studies' evolution, fundamental discoveries, and implications. The webinar will particularly emphasize cross-departmental collaboration as an exemplary approach to success in promoting student well-being on campuses. By participating in this enlightening discussion, attendees will gain invaluable knowledge about modern programs and services that can profoundly contribute towards fulfilling strategic plans at their respective institutions.

• Examine 3 specific studies in detail
• Describe the shift to a holistic well-being approach to student health
• Outline the core constructs of a well-being measurement tool for faculty, staff, and students
• Discuss key findings and takeaways from a multi-series well-being and student success survey initiative

This interactive, 60-minute webinar is designed to present a comprehensive overview of opioids most prevalently used by college-age individuals, thereby fostering an understanding of their appeal within this demographic. We will also discuss the potential risks, observable indicators, and symptoms associated with opioid intoxication, overdose, and withdrawal.

In light of the evolving nature of substance additives, such as fentanyl and xylazine, a significant segment of the webinar will focus on the heightened risk factor associated with drug experimentation. The societal pressures, such as peer influence, that often normalize such experimentation, will also be covered to offer a broader context.

In conclusion, we will provide specific resources and communication strategies for engaging with someone suspected of struggling with drug-related issues. Best practices for educating students about these concerns will be reviewed to enhance their ability to navigate these challenging circumstances in an informed and responsible manner.

• Educate faculty about the common substances used by college-age students which include dangers, signs, and symptoms of intoxication, overdose, and withdrawal. The speaker will specifically focus on the dangers of fentanyl, heroin and xylazine.
• Provide interactive opportunities for faculty to engage in the presentation by asking factual questions such as, “How can you help reverse an overdose?”
• Discuss ways to talk with students who are engaging in problematic substance abuse.

Ensuring students' total well-being and success is a priority in higher education. With counseling centers becoming increasingly overwhelmed by demand, the call for more preventive strategies has become urgent. Motivational Interviewing presents a reservoir of vital strategies and techniques that can be employed by faculty and staff, enabling them to provide support to students before a crisis arises. Challenges can range from roommate conflicts and academic advancement to mental health issues, so facilitating holistic student success is more critical than ever.

Coaching, centered around sparking motivation and guiding action toward individual goals, is emerging as a pivotal movement within higher education. However, embracing change can be complex. Students, faculty, staff, and fellow students often feel trapped in a behavior change cycle. This webinar will distill the fundamental concepts of coaching and Motivational Interviewing, offering specific strategies and inquisitive techniques that faculty, staff, or students could utilize to support a student navigating campus life and equip participants with practical takeaways for everyday campus conversations.

• Understand the six stages of the change model
  
• Recall the four processes of Motivational Interviewing
  
• Identify at least one strategy to employ at each stage of change with students
  
• Utilize one specific coaching question at each stage of change with students

As leaders in higher education, our dedication and commitment to our work and to the students are unmistakable. We tirelessly give more than what's expected, striving for excellence every day. But in the midst of our dedication, there's a vital component that often gets eclipsed: our personal holistic well-being and self-nurturance.

Neglecting holistic well-being not only impacts our personal health but has pronounced effects on job performance. A lack of self-care can lead to burnout, diminished concentration, and a decrease in innovative thinking - all critical elements in higher education leadership roles. By overlooking our well-being, we inadvertently compromise the quality of decisions, team dynamics, and, most importantly, the educational environment we strive to cultivate. On the flip side, actively integrating self-care practices results in heightened resilience, sharper decision-making skills, enhanced team morale, and an overall positive, productive work environment. It is thus imperative for leaders in higher education to prioritize their well-being for the larger benefit of their institutions.

In this engaging session, participants will discuss topics like:

• The adverse effects of neglecting self-nurturance and holistic health.
• Recognizing and confronting the barriers that deter us from practicing self-sustenance.
• Effective methods to carve out and commit time for personal rejuvenation.
• Understanding the broad impacts on our professional and personal spheres when our own well-being is sidestepped.
• Exploring a variety of techniques centered on holistic health and self-nurturance.

By the end of this session, participants will be inspired to sketch out an initial blueprint for their personal rejuvenation.

• Empower yourself with techniques to sharpen your self-awareness and realize the centrality of self-nurturance.
• Dive deep into understanding both personal and professional ramifications when holistic health is overlooked.
• Detect and tackle typical roadblocks that impede the journey of personal rejuvenation.
• Discover practical strategies for effortlessly weaving self-nurturance into your daily life.
• Facilitate attendees in shaping a realistic starting blueprint for their personal rejuvenation journey.