Erin McClintock, Senior Director of Impact and Education, EVERFISofia B. Pertuz, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, The Jed Foundation
Fostering Connection to Support the Mental Health of Underserved Students
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Today’s Speakers
Erin McClintockSenior Director of
Impact and EducationEVERFI
Sofia B. PertuzChief Diversity & Inclusion Officer
The Jed Foundation
Closed captioning available at: http://bit.ly/jed-everfi
25+ Million Learners
800+ Financial Institutions
Across The United States and Canada
1,500+ Corporations & Municipalities
25,000+
K-12 Schools1,500+
Higher Education Institutions
3,500
Partners 520 Employees
100+ Former Teachers/Administrators
EVERFI at a Glance
4
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 accessto dangerous means
Develop independent living skills, social and emotional skills, and resilience
Mental Well-being for Students
Overview1
Key Data Findings2
3
4
Barriers and Strengths
Case Studies and Key Takeaways
Agenda
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
Overview
A Brief History of Access
Source: Ethan Hutchinson, 2014
1636White, Christian men at Harvard . Native Americans for purpose of taming/conversion
1849African-American males: Avery College
Mid-1800sMen went to war, women granted access: Common School Movement
1862Funds emerged for colleges of agriculture, mechanical and military sciences
1890Hatch 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.
1901The 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
The National Higher Education Landscape
❏ Increase in bias and hate incidents
❏ Challenges to institutional leadership
❏ Student protests and demands
❏ Negative media exposure
What Does The Media Tell Us?
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
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
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)
Where Students Go For Help
When you experience stress or emotional challenges, who are you most likely to talk to?
Source: EVERFI, 2018
What Students Already Know
Source: EVERFI, 2018
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 Struggle55% 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
Identity
Barriers to Seeking Help
Discomfort with counseling center
?
Lack of coordinated efforts
Cultural or social stigma
Lack of representation on staff
Accessibility to care
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
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
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
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
Do you plan to see a counselor while at school?
Source: EVERFI, 2018
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
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
Excellence in Action: Amherst College
UPDATE COLOR PALETTE
• 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
A Closer Look at Student StoriesDisability Status
BUT 60% do not plan to see a counselor at school
Source: EVERFI, 2019. n=1,423
Students With Disabilities Tell Their Stories#WhyDisabledPeopleDropOut
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
Mental Health by Race/Ethnicity
American Indian/Alaskan Native
Asian
Black or African American
Hispanic/Latinx
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
White
Professionals in the Field
Center for Collegiate Mental Health 2017-2018 Provider Data
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
Presenting The Steve Fund and JED Foundation’sEquity in Mental Health Framework
The Equity in Mental Health Framework
•
•
•
equityinmentalhealth.org
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).
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
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
Responding to National Incidents
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
Paula JohnsonWellesley College
Prioritized curricular infusion
Applied a public health approach to mental health
Focus on historically underrepresented populations
Gregory FenvesUniversity of Texas, Austin
Created and funded “counselors-in-residence” program embedding counselors in campus spaces
Created mental health diversity coordinator position
Excellence in Leadership
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
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
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
Wait a minute!
Where have you been?
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
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
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!
Mental Well-Being for Students: Modules
Understanding Mental
Well-Being
Developing Healthy
Practices
Recognizing Challenges
Seeking and Offering Help
Questions?
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