National Wellness Month 2024: Supporting Student Health and Well-Being
Boston University researchers share insights on the health challenges students face and explore strategies for schools to enhance well-being resources and practices.
By Lydia Lu
August is National Wellness Month, a time devoted to caring for one’s physical and mental health. Self-care and prioritizing well-being are important, especially for students during their key years of development. But today, millions of students are struggling to keep their mental and physical health in balance. The pressures of academic performance, current events, and societal expectations can take a significant toll on their health. In a 2023 national survey of over 55,000 undergraduate students, the American College Health Association (ACHA) found that approximately 76% of students were dealing with moderate to serious psychological distress. These challenges can have long-lasting effects on students’ long-term health and future success. That’s why it’s essential for schools and communities to recognize these issues and take action to support students. In light of this month’s theme, we’ve gathered research and thought leadership from BU faculty and researchers that focus on student mental health and offer strategies schools can use to enhance resources and practices for improving their students’ well-being.
In December of 2023, BU’s School of Public Health hosted the College Mental Health: Challenges and Opportunities event, aiming to delve into key issues contributing to the escalating mental health crisis on college campuses. The event included panelists such as BU’s dean of students Jason Campbell-Foster and Sarah Lipson, an SPH associate professor of health law, policy, and management. Panelists from other organizations and universities were also in attendance such as Khadijah Booth Watkins, associate director of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry residency training program at Massachusetts General Hospital, Sasha Zhou, an assistant professor at Wayne State’s College of Liberal Arts and Science, and Brett Scofield, associate director of the Penn State University Center for Counseling and Psychological Services. The panelists explored the effects of academic pressure, financial strain, and broader societal challenges, such as mass shootings and climate change, which are uniquely impacting today’s students. The discussion also touched on identity-based discrimination, noting that Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) and LGBTQ+ students are among the least likely to utilize mental health services, with 43 percent of these students not receiving formal treatment despite experiencing symptoms. In response to these challenges, the panelists emphasized the need for systemic change within universities. “Opportunities to protect student well-being and advance equity are in many ways at the system level,” said Dr. Lipson. Learn more about their responses and discussion here.
Research shows that 75 percent of lifetime mental illness begins by age 24, underscoring the role colleges and universities play in supporting student mental health. In response, BU established the Student Wellbeing Office, which offers grants of up to $2,000 to fund wellbeing-focused programs and initiatives led by faculty, staff, and students. Carol Dolan, a clinical professor at BU’s School of Public Health, introduced these grants to students in her course, Mental Health and Public Health: A Social and Behavioral Sciences Perspective (SB780), encouraging them to propose their ideas for promoting well-being at SPH. The students developed a variety of community-building initiatives, ranging from mentorship programs to social events, all aimed at enhancing social connectedness and reducing isolation among students. Dolan stressed the importance of practical considerations in their proposals, such as budgets and implementation timelines, while also advocating for a broader focus on overall well-being rather than just mental health. The students’ pitches were well-received by a panel of BU wellbeing professionals, who encouraged further development of these ideas. Read more about their pitched ideas here.
BU’s Project AVANT, led by Wheelock College of Education & Human Development’s Melissa Holt and Jennifer Greif Green, is focused on studying the mental health impacts of anti-transgender legislation on transgender and non-binary youth. The research team, which includes experts from BU’s School of Public Health and Boston Children’s Hospital, is committed to expanding their work to better advocate for vulnerable populations amid growing legislative threats. Since 2020, the team has tracked hundreds of gender-diverse adolescents across the U.S., uncovering alarming rates of anxiety, depression, and self-harm among participants, worsened by an increasingly hostile political climate. Holt and Green emphasize the crucial role of inclusive school policies and the support of peers and educators in lessening these harmful effects. “We would like to convey to gender-diverse youth…that they are not alone. There are adults who are available to support them and resources they can access at any point,” said Holt. Read more from Holt and Green’s insights here.
A pilot study supported by BU’s Initiative on Cities and the SPH Idea Hub has laid the groundwork for expanded research aimed at enhancing environmental health within the Boston Public Schools (BPS). Led by Patricia Fabian, an associate professor of environmental health, the study is focused on reducing asthma triggers, boosting climate resilience, and improving energy efficiency in school buildings. Through her partnership with BPS, Fabian has presented at global conferences, participated in a White House summit, and earned recognition for sustainability efforts. Her research has been instrumental in helping BPS prioritize operational upgrades and investments in indoor environmental quality, such as the installation of new HVAC systems, while also drawing interest from institutions worldwide. While BPS has made significant progress, Fabian underscores the need for ongoing research to ensure the continued health and well-being of students and staff in classrooms. Read more about Fabian’s work here.
For additional commentary by Boston University experts, follow us on X at @BUexperts and Instagram at @BUexperts. Follow Sarah Lipson at @DrSarahLipson and Patricia Fabian at @PatriciaFabianS. For research updates from Boston University’s School of Public Health and Wheelock College of Education and Human Development, follow @BUSPH and @BUWheelock.
