According to a 2019 report by the Educational Advisory Council, the demand for mental health services and resources at universities has increased over recent decades. According to the latest Healthy Minds survey, 41% of college students report depression and 36% experience severe or moderate anxiety.
Indiana University is no exception, and in the years leading up to the global pandemic, multiple task forces across the university sought ways to meet the growing need for mental health resources. In 2021, IU President Pamela Witten commissioned a strategic plan to improve the mental health of all IU students.
Nearly three years later, progress has been made through the collaborative efforts of the Office of the Vice President for Student Success, student life leaders, and counseling centers across campus.
Additionally, this work is guided by the Student Mental Health Advisory Committee, which is comprised of faculty and staff from across the university. Each campus also convenes students on a mental health advisory committee, allowing campus leaders to hear directly from students about emerging mental health concerns.
Our success in improving student mental health across all campuses is thanks to deep partnerships across the university and everyone’s commitment to ensuring all students have the resources they need to thrive.
In response to the need for data, biannual surveys are conducted to measure student perceptions of the quality and accessibility of IU’s mental health resources. The first study, launched in October 2022, provided a baseline for advancing efforts to improve the student experience and measuring the effectiveness of those efforts.
“Everything we do to ensure student success is informed by data,” said Roosevelt L. Noble, Vice President of Student Engagement and Wellbeing. “These studies are critical to understanding where we as a university need to invest to ensure our students have the greatest access to mental health resources.”
Comprehensive awareness campaign
Items from the Unboxed campaign were given to students at the Mental Health Week event held at IU Kokomo on February 6, 2024. Photo by Myah Halter, Indiana University Survey data will be critical in measuring the impact of the Unboxed campaign launched in October 2022. The campaign aims to raise awareness about mental health and IU resources, reduce stigma, and encourage help-seeking behavior.
The foundation of Unboxed is a centralized mental health resource website. This website consolidates information about wellness resources available to students at each of the nine IU campuses. Whether students need services such as counseling, accessibility, or basic necessities, they can easily find where to go on campus.
“The Unboxed campaign and the Student Mental Health website are critical to the success of the Student Mental Health Initiative,” said Noble. “More than 75,000 people used the website, which represents an 841% increase in new users in two years.”
According to the latest research:
81% of students said they found IU’s services helpful and would recommend them to other students, an 11% increase over two years. 87% of students say they know where to access mental health resources, an increase of 8%. 84% of students say IU’s mental health resources meet their needs, an increase of 15% from the first survey.
Expanding innovative services
Survey data shows that one of the biggest barriers students face when seeking mental health resources is lack of time. In response, IU launched TimelyCare in May 2023, a 24/7 virtual wellness platform designed specifically for college students. Students can now access the resources they need anytime, anywhere.
IU offers TimelyCare free of charge to all students, including online students.
“This is a great resource for IU students,” said Julie Payne-Kirchmeier, vice president for student success. “TimelyCare is meeting students where they are, and we are committed to enrolling as many students as possible in this valuable resource.”
TimelyCare offers a wealth of services, including scheduled counseling, 24/7 TalkNow, health coaching, and a peer community to address challenges and build better habits around issues like sleep, nutrition, and mindfulness. Contains evidence-based digital self-care tools for. Additionally, more than 50% of TimelyCare’s providers identify as BIPOC, helping students connect with counselors who understand their unique challenges.
Student reviews for TimelyCare are excellent. With an average visit rating of 4.9 out of 5, users report that TimelyCare makes them more comfortable interacting with colleagues and more likely to complete and graduate their course of study. The average wait time for a TalkNow visit is approximately 5 minutes, and the average wait time for the next available scheduled counseling appointment is less than 2 days.
TimelyCare fills an important need, as 56% of users reported that they would not have done anything to address their mental health needs if TimelyCare was not available.
Students who register by October 31st will have a chance to win an IU Bookstore gift card.
Based on IU’s culture of care
IU has long embraced a culture of care across all of its campuses. The Student Mental Health Initiative has sought to build on this tradition by providing students, faculty and staff with the tools to recognize and respond to mental health issues.
The Care Card provides guidance to help IU faculty and staff recognize and respond to students’ mental health concerns. Photo courtesy of the Office of the Vice President for Student Success Care Cards were created for faculty and staff as a common-sense guide on how to recognize the signs of mental distress, talk to students, and connect students with IU resources. More than 15,000 care cards have been distributed over the past two years. In addition, “Conversation Starter” cards were created for students looking for help on how to talk to a friend who is going through a difficult situation.
U Bring Change 2 Mind is another program launched on all IU campuses. Its mission is to remove the stigma associated with mental illness on college campuses, emphasizing connections to change attitudes, create social support, and remove barriers to seeking care. This evidence-based program was piloted at IU Bloomington in 2014. Its chapters are inclusive communities of students who host events aimed at bringing students together and tackling topics they typically shy away from.
To learn more about how you can impact the mental health and wellness of your students, please contact us at vpss@iu.edu.
