The Healthy Minds Study is an ongoing effort by the Healthy Minds Network to better understand the struggles college students face. Over 450 campuses across the United States participate in data collection via online surveys, furthering the advancement of mental health care from the comfort of their living room.
The survey is called the Healthy Minds Survey and asks questions regarding students’ overall college life. Topics include behaviors towards self-care and self-harm, personal mental health status, financial stress, public safety on campuses and resources available to combat stress. Answers are completely anonymous, allowing for confidentiality while advocating for honesty.
Deployment at Madison College started Oct. 13. Ben Koneuff, senior institutional research analyst at Madison College, has been working with the University of Michigan to ensure everything runs smoothly. “This is a great opportunity to center student voices on the college experience, to shape [the] medicine college services provide,” he said.
Geraldo VilaCruz, Associate Vice President-Dean of Students, said Madison College was meant to be involved much sooner, but the Covid-19 pandemic threw a wrench in those plans.
“We wanted to get a better sense of what students need,” VilaCruz explained. “Part of the challenges relate to stigma around mental health and how students see these issues. We’ve been trying to do a more systemic approach to the college, taking ownership of mental health and how we’re providing the information and resources to the students.”
The intent of the Healthy Minds Survey is to help the participants in their everyday lives, as well as provide schools with the information needed to create a more positive campus atmosphere.
Students will gain a better understanding of their mental health status and information regarding the steps they can personally take to treat any concerns they have, such as attending college counseling.
Meanwhile, institutions will be given a final report from the Healthy Minds Network on the areas of concern, custom tailored to their students’ responses.
Furthermore, Healthy Minds Network will provide potential solutions to the listed concerns in the form of recommendations, giving colleges flexibility in their planning to meet students’ needs.
The Healthy Minds Survey is now available and will be open to students until Nov. 3. All Madison College students enrolled in at least one course this semester will receive an email with the survey link. It will also be available on the Healthy Minds Network website alongside commonly asked questions.