Demand for mental health services and resources at colleges and universities has been on the rise for decades, according to a 2019 briefing by the Educational Advisory Board. The most recent Healthy Minds survey shows that 41% of college students report depression and 36% experience severe or moderate anxiety.
Indiana University is no exception, and over the years leading up to the global pandemic, multiple task forces across the university explored ways to meet the increased need for mental health resources. In 2021, IU President Pamela Whitten commissioned a strategic plan to improve mental health for all IU students.
Nearly three years later, progress has been made through the collaborative work of the Office of the Vice President for Student Success, Student Life leaders and counseling centers across all campuses.
In addition, the work is guided by the Student Mental Health Advisory Council, which is composed of faculty and staff from across the university. Also, each campus convenes students on a mental health advisory council to ensure that campus leadership hears directly from them on emerging mental health concerns.
Improving student mental health across all campuses has succeeded because of deep partnerships across the university and a commitment from all to ensure every student has the resources they need to thrive.
In response to the need for data, a twice-yearly survey has been conducted to measure student perceptions of the quality and accessibility of mental health resources at IU. The first survey, launched in October 2022, provided a baseline to drive efforts to improve the student experience and measure the efficacy of those efforts.
“Data informs everything we do to ensure student success,” said Rosevelt L. Noble, associate vice president for student engagement and well-being. “These surveys are critical to understanding where, as a university, we need to invest so that students have the greatest access to resources for their mental health.”
A comprehensive awareness campaign
Items from the Unboxed campaign were offered to students at a mental health week event at IU Kokomo on Feb. 6, 2024. Photo by Myah Halter, Indiana UniversitySurvey data is critically important in measuring the impact of the Unboxed campaign, which launched in October 2022. The campaign is designed to raise awareness about mental health and IU resources, and to reduce stigma and promote help-seeking behavior.
The foundation of Unboxed is a centralized mental health resources website. The website consolidates information about wellness resources available to students on each of the nine IU campuses. Whether a student needs services such as counseling, accessibility or basic necessities, they can easily find where to go on their 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 have engaged with the website, which represents an 841% increase in new users over two years.”
According to the most recent survey:
- 81% of students say IU’s services helped them and they would recommend to other students, an 11% increase over two years.
- 87% of students say they know where to access resources for mental health, an 8% increase.
- 84% of students say IU’s mental health resources meet their needs, a 15% increase from the first survey.
A game-changing expansion of services
The survey data shows that one of the biggest barriers students face to seeking mental health resources is they don’t have time. In response, IU launched TimelyCare in May 2023, a 24/7 virtual wellness platform designed expressly for college students. Students can now access resources anytime, anywhere they need it.
IU provides TimelyCare to all students, including online students, free of charge.
“It is an incredible resource for IU students,” said Julie Payne-Kirchmeier, vice president for student success. “TimelyCare meets students where they are, and we are dedicated to making sure that as many students as possible are registered for this valuable resource.”
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