Explore the often overlooked aspects of student mental health on campus and ways in which higher education institutions can best support those most impacted.

1. Erin McClintock, Senior Director of Impact and Education, EVERFI
Sofia B. Pertuz, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, The Jed Foundation
Fostering Connection to
Support the Mental Health of
Underserved Students
Closed captioning available at: http://bit.ly/jed-everfi

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3. Today’s Speakers
Erin McClintock
Senior Director of
Impact and Education
EVERFI
Sofia B. Pertuz
Chief Diversity &
Inclusion Officer
The Jed Foundation
Closed captioning available at: http://bit.ly/jed-everfi

4. 25+ Million
Learners
800+ Financial
Institutions
Across The United
States and Canada
1,500+ Corporations &
Municipalities
25,000+
K-12 Schools
1,500+
Higher Education Institutions
3,500
Partners
520 Employees
100+ Former Teachers/Administrators
EVERFI at a Glance
4

5. The Jed Foundation Comprehensive Approach
for protecting mental health and preventing suicide
Source: JED / SPRC Comprehensive Approach to Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention
Foster connectedness and
belonging
Create opportunities and
systems to notice someone
in distress
Reduce shame, secrecy, stigma
so people will reach out for help
Ensure high quality services
Ensure the right policies
and protocols are in place to
handle crises
Identify and limit access
to dangerous means
Develop independent living skills,
social and emotional skills, and
resilience

6. Mental
Well-being
for Students

7. Overview1
Key Data Findings2
3
4
Barriers and Strengths
Case Studies and Key Takeaways
Agenda

8. Goals for Today
• Take a deep dive into mental health issues impacting historically
underserved students
• Understand how to anticipate the mental health needs of students and
proactively work to support them
• Learn new ways for creating healthy and thriving campus communities
for all student populations

9. Overview

10. A Brief History of Access
Source: Ethan Hutchinson, 2014
1636
White, Christian
men at Harvard .
Native Americans
for purpose of
taming/conversion
1849
African-American
males: Avery
College
Mid-1800s
Men went to war,
women granted access:
Common School
Movement
1862
Funds emerged for
colleges of agriculture,
mechanical and military
sciences
1890
Hatch Act added
provisions for land
grants for African
American schools.
HBCU’s in south.
1954
Brown vs. Board of Education
brought segregation of higher
education into question.
1901
The idea of Junior
Colleges was thought
of for poorer affluent
students
1968-1972
- Energy crisis.
Government
funding is cut.
African American
women are
admitted.
- Title IX

11. The National Higher Education Landscape
❏ Increase in bias and hate incidents
❏ Challenges to institutional leadership
❏ Student protests and demands
❏ Negative media exposure

12. What Does The Media Tell Us?

13. Gen-Z:
A Generation Poised To Lead
The most culturally accepting generation
Talk about mental health more than any other
Want honest portrayals of their experiences
and authentic connections
Naturally want to help their friends
Go to friends first when in distress
Source: Cassandra Report 2015; Droga5 Point Lab interviews

14. 28% 42% 14% 8%
Have experienced
a depressive
episode in the past
year
Have felt so
depressed that it
was difficult to
function
Have seriously
considered
attempting suicide
Have made a plan
for ending their life
Source: EVERFI, 2018
A Glimpse at Student Mental Health

15. Mental Health and Student Retention
Students with mental
health problems
found to be
more likely to leave
an institution.
Source: Lipson, Abelson, Ceglarek, Phillips, & Eisenberg (2019)

16. Where Students Go For Help
When you
experience stress
or emotional
challenges, who
are you most
likely to talk to?
Source: EVERFI, 2018

17. What Students Already Know
Source: EVERFI, 2018

18. An Absence of Basic Needs
PHYSIOLOGICAL
SAFETY
LOVE/BELONGING
ESTEEM
SELF-
ACTUALIZATION
Food and Housing Insecurity Increasingly
Prevalent
A recent study of NY students at 100 institutions
found that 45% reported experiencing food insecurity
in the past 30 days
14% of community college students and 10% of
four-year college students report “couch-surfing”
Sleep Remains A Struggle
55% of college students report being “too tired to do
things” at least once in a week span
Source: Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice , 2019; EVERFI, 2019

19. Identity

20. Barriers to Seeking Help
Discomfort with counseling center
?
Lack of coordinated efforts
Cultural or social stigma
Lack of representation on staff
Accessibility to care

21. 28% 42% 14% 8%
Have experienced
a depressive
episode in the past
year
Have felt so
depressed that it
was difficult to
function
Have seriously
considered
attempting suicide
Have made a plan
for ending their life
Another Glimpse at Student Mental Health
Source: EVERFI, 2018

22. 67% of gender nonconforming students (n= 175)
78% of trans male students (n= 133)
55% of lesbian and bisexual students (n= 562; 3787)
28% of all students have experienced a
depressive episode in the past year
Source: EVERFI, 2018

23. 84% of gender nonconforming students (n= 174)
78% of trans male students (n= 131)
77% of queer students (n= 379)
71% of bisexual students (n= 3775)
69% of lesbian students (n=379)
42% have felt so depressed that it was
difficult to function
Source: EVERFI, 2018

24. 14.4%
have seriously
considered
attempting suicide
n= 3772 n= 380 n= 73 n= 165 n= 174 n= 132
8.5%
have made a plan
Source: EVERFI, 2019

25. Do you plan to see a counselor while at school?
Source: EVERFI, 2018

26. Insights From You:
Reaching Queer-Spectrum & Trans-Spectrum
Students
16%
17% 18% 18%
21%
23%
32%
47%
Specialized Peer
Education/
Outreach
Therapeutic
Groups
Student-run
clubs
Institution-
sponsored
affinity groups
Counselors
Who Specialize
Faculty/Staff
Training
Physical
Space/Center
Dedicated
Section on
Website

27. Excellence in Action
Has specific section on counseling center website
for queer-spectrum/trans-spectrum students,
highlighting strengths of community members as
well as potential challenges and specific resources
Has an entire section on website dedicated to
faculty and staff education on inclusivity.
Conducts support group for TGNC students.
Section on website specifically for
trans/non-binary students with relevant policies,
information, and resources.
Source: CPN Summit Research, 2019

28. Excellence in Action: Amherst College
• Sponsor educational and campus community-building
programs
• Resource library dedicated to books and media
concerning queer issues/topics
• Student support groups including Queer & Trans People
of Color, Amherst Athletes & Allies, and Pride Alliance
• Website hosts trans resource section containing legal,
administrative, healthcare, housing, presentation,
restroom, and community information
Queer Resource Center
Source: CPN Summit Interview, 2019

29. A Closer Look at Student Stories
Disability Status
BUT 60% do not plan to see a counselor at school
Source: EVERFI, 2019. n=1,423

30. Students With Disabilities Tell Their Stories
#WhyDisabledPeopleDropOut

31. Insights from You:
Reaching Students With Disabilities
7% 8%
12%
14%
25%
30% 30%
31%
Specialized
Peer
Education/
Outreach
Therapeutic
Groups
Student-run
clubs
Institution-
sponsored
affinity groups
Counselors
Who Specialize
Faculty/Staff
Training
Physical
Space/Center
Dedicated
Section on
Website

32. Mental Health by Race/Ethnicity
American Indian/Alaskan
Native
Asian
Black or African
American
Hispanic/Latinx
Native Hawaiian/Pacific
Islander
White

33. Professionals in the Field
Center for Collegiate Mental Health 2017-2018 Provider Data

34. Insights from You:
Reaching Students of Color
11%
16% 17%
20% 21%
32% 33%
47%
Specialized Peer
Education/
Outreach
Therapeutic
Groups
Student-run
clubs
Institution-
sponsored
affinity groups
Counselors
Who Specialize
Faculty/Staff
Training
Physical
Space/Center
Dedicated
Section on
Website

35. Presenting The Steve Fund and JED Foundation’s
Equity in Mental Health Framework

36. The Equity in Mental Health Framework
•
•
•
equityinmentalhealth.org

37. Recommendations
1. Identify and promote the mental health and well-being of students of color as a campus-wide priority.
2. Engage students to provide guidance and feedback on matters of student mental health and emotional
well-being.
3. Actively recruit, train, and retain a diverse and culturally competent faculty and professional staff.
4. Create opportunities to engage around national and international issues/events.
5. Create dedicated roles to support well-being and success of students of color.
6. Support and promote accessible, safe communication with campus administration and an effective response
system.
7. Offer a range of supportive programs and services in varied formats.
8. Help students learn about programs and services by advertising and promoting through multiple channels.
9. Identify and utilize culturally relevant and promising programs and practices, and collect data on
effectiveness.
10. Participate in resource and information sharing (within and between schools).

38. EMHF Recommendation #3
Actively Recruit, Train, and Retain a Diverse and Culturally
Competent Faculty and Professional Staff
- Examine whether the identities represented among the student body are also
represented in the faculty and professional staff.
- Provide education and training in cultural competencies to all individuals engaged in
student support roles.
equityinmentalhealth.org

39. EMHF Recommendation #4
Create Opportunities to Engage Around National and
International Issues/Events
Current events and cultural movements (e.g. International Travel Ban) profoundly impact
members of the campus community even when geographically removed from colleges and
universities.
equityinmentalhealth.org

40. Responding to National Incidents

41. EMHF Recommendation #5
Create Dedicated Roles to Support Well-Being and Success of
Students of Color
- Create top level administrative positions and hire staff to oversee campus-wide
diversity, multicultural, and social justice-oriented services, programs, and policies.
- Administrators should ideally report directly to the President or Provost while staff
should report to the designated administrator.
- Ensure that protected time and resources are allocated to these officers and staff.
equityinmentalhealth.org

42. Paula
Johnson
Wellesley College
Prioritized curricular
infusion
Applied a public health
approach to mental
health
Focus on historically
underrepresented
populations
Gregory Fenves
University of Texas,
Austin
Created and funded
“counselors-in-residence”
program embedding
counselors in campus
spaces
Created mental health
diversity coordinator
position
Excellence in Leadership

43. EMHF Recommendation #6
Support and Promote Accessible, Safe Communication with
Campus Administration and an Effective Response System
Create a well-publicized and accessible process by which any student, faculty, or staff
member can alert key administrators about incidents, concerns, or issues related to
campus climate.
equityinmentalhealth.org

44. NATIONAL DRINKING TRENDS
SHIFT
STUDENTS OF COLOR AS
ABSTAINERS
Abstainer/
Nondrinker
68.1%
Moderate
Drinker
19.08%
Heavy
Episodic/
Problematic
Drinker
12.82%
Sample size 182,389
1991 2017
High risk
drinker (All
college
students,
MTF)
39% 32%
High risk
drinkers
(AEdu)
25% 18%
No alcohol
in the past
year
(12th
graders,
MTF)
22% 44%
Non-
drinkers
(AEdu)
59% 65%
Source: AlcoholEdu, 2017Source: Monitoring The Future, 2017
Consider Wellness Across the Board

45. Meanwhile...
Source: Washington, 2015; EVERFI Sexual Assault Diagnostic Inventory, 2018
WHO WE ARE (AND AREN’T) REACHING
First year
students
96% 26%
LGBTQIA
students
Resident
advisors
94% 16% Prior victims
Athletes 81% 10%
Students with
disabilities
Student
leaders
68% 9%
Racial/ethnic
minority
students
Greek life 60% 9%
Non-traditional
students
“Classes felt less competitive as a result of the
campus alcohol culture”
“Academic settings felt uncomfortable because
professors or TA’s discussed drinking.”
“Avoided campus environments because of
harassment by drunk people”
48% of students of color said they experienced
microaggressions from intoxicated students.
65% of students said that alcohol culture
affected their campus experience.
OTHER STUDENTS DRINKING
HAS AN IMPACT

46. Wait a
minute!
Where have you been?

47. EMHF Recommendation #10
Participate in Resource and Information Sharing
(Within and Between Schools)
Decentralized organizational structures on campus can create challenges in collaborating
with or remaining aware of efforts across offices or departments.
Enhanced communication and the use of centralized, accessible resource-sharing
repositories enable collaboration within and among schools nationwide.
equityinmentalhealth.org

48. Key Takeaways
Look at your data from
all angles
Increase training and
specialization among
faculty and staff
Communicate with your
students
Institutionalize
your efforts
Empower staff who
already have expertise

49. Mental Well-being for Students
Students currently experiencing
mental health challenges will
• be more likely to seek support
when needed
• take actions to support positive
mental health
Students not currently experiencing
mental health challenges will
• seek support if mental health
challenges arise
• take actions to maintain a positive
state of mental health
A Population
Level Approach
to Promoting
Mental
Well-Being
All students will
● support someone experiencing mental health challenges
● view mental health as an important part of physical health
● know where to go to access help
● identify and dismantle stigma related to mental health challenges and help seeking
behavior
Available Now!

50. Mental Well-Being for Students: Modules
Understanding
Mental
Well-Being
Developing
Healthy
Practices
Recognizing
Challenges
Seeking and
Offering Help

51. Questions?

53. Mental Health Considerations
Lack of
representation
in wellness
spaces
Negative
stereotypes =
unfriendly
campus
environment
Latinx =
higher levels of
depression
LGBTQ+ =
higher levels of
depression and
anxiety
Source: The Steve Fund, 2016; Healthy Minds Study, 2017
Fear of
stigma within
community
Students of color
more likely to
report feeling
overwhelmed
Less likely to
utilize counseling
services
Students of color
are more likely to
say that they keep
their feelings to
themselves