Enhancing Student Success Through Mental Health and Support Networks

Author: Henry Gura, Project Lead, Student Success Toolkit

Universities have always held a special place in our culture as mechanisms for transition and growth. Young adults gain not only the knowledge they need to perform highly specialized jobs but also the essential social skills to function as adults. However, various stressors and their deleterious effects on mental health threaten both of these aims. Fortunately, the trend of increasing distress among students, which contributes to burnout and dropout, can be addressed through the implementation of several simple policy changes to help universities better support their students.

Addressing Stress and Procrastination

A pervasive and unequivocally negative aspect of the university experience is stress, which affects up to 75% of the student body (ACHA, 2019). Stress has been shown to lower GPA (Frazier, 2019) and jeopardize student mental health. Such a widespread issue requires targeted strategies. Universities should:

• Identify Vulnerable Students: Implement systems to identify students at risk of high stress levels (Frazier, 2019).
• Create Non-Academic Spaces: Establish spaces on campus dedicated to student recreation and relaxation (Jones, 2023).

Procrastination, another common issue, negatively impacts academic performance (Klingsieck, 2013) and is often rooted in student mindset (Thakkar, 2009). To tackle procrastination, universities should adopt individualized approaches, focusing on building conscientiousness and orderly habits in the student body (Steel, 2016).

Strengthening Student Networks

Strengthening student networks is a vital solution to many of these problems. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted typical social interactions within universities, highlighting the need for meaningful peer relationships as a key element in student success. Research has shown that participation in student organizations has tangible impacts on both academics and life satisfaction:

• Qualitative Evidence: Enhanced sense of belonging and reduced stress (McFadden, 2017).
• Quantitative Evidence: Higher GPAs and increased employability after college (Ribeiro, 2023).

Encouraging membership in student organizations, particularly those focused on networking and career exploration, has immense positive benefits for universities with minimal cost. Simple measures, such as allowing student groups to introduce themselves at the beginning of class time, can yield significant benefits for the student body.

Implementing Mindfulness and Meditation Programs

Introducing mindfulness and meditation activities on campus is another effective strategy. These programs have shown benefits both online and in-person (Komirah, 2023). Providing students with self-guided meditation apps can reduce stress and anxiety (Chen, 2023) with little cost in time or effort to the university. Additionally, these programs can enhance learning ability and boost student performance while improving mental health (Romero, 2023).

Conclusion

Implementing these recommendations can help universities create a more supportive and enriching environment for students. By addressing stress and procrastination, strengthening student networks, and introducing mindfulness and meditation programs, universities can help students achieve their full potential both academically and personally.