Faculty Awareness, Receptiveness, and Self-Care in Addressing Student Mental Health

Title: The Role of Faculty in Student Mental Health

Source: Boston University School of Public Health, the Healthy Minds Network, the Mary Christie Foundation

A survey piloted across 12 colleges and universities captured faculty perspectives on students’ mental and behavioral health. The report notes perceptions of student mental health as having worsened in the pandemic, details faculty responses, and relays mental health experiences among faculty. Key takeaways include:

• Over half (51 percent) of respondents “agree” or “strongly agree” that they have a good idea of how to recognize that a student is in emotional or mental distress.
• Approximately 69 percent of respondents “agree” or “strongly agree” that they would welcome additional professional development on student mental health.
• Faculty affiliated with social sciences and public policy, education and humanities, the arts, and cross-disciplinary programs – as well as female, transgender, non-binary, genderqueer, and gender non-conforming faculty – were most likely to engage with students regarding student mental health.
• Just under 30 percent of respondents “agree” or “strongly agree” that they know what mental health services are available for faculty at their institution.

Survey results also provide insight on faculty awareness and comfort surrounding substance use, familiarity with student resources, and perceptions of institutional climate.

Click here to read the report.

—Anna Marie Ramos