The Mental Health Needs Assessment (MHNA) was launched in 2012 in response to research findings indicating that a significant portion of UBC students experienced mental health concerns, and that these concerns had a negative effect on students’ academic performance. The MHNA was conducted as five discrete studies. In 2012/13, the research team used a participatory action approach to explore the student experience of stress. The 2013/14 study employed participatory action research to better understand the student experience of mental health stigma. In 2014/15, three projects were conducted: one exploring the international student perspective of mental health needs, one exploring faculty and staff perspectives of student mental health and soliciting their suggestions to improve it, and one a campus-wide student survey to identify student priorities for improving student mental health on campus. Findings from these studies indicate that recommendations to increase awareness of mental health on campus, promote and advance mental health services, create a healthier community, and improve teaching practices are warranted.
Acknowledgements
The MHNA was funded by the Teaching and Learning Fund (TLEF): Building Synergy in Promoting Mental Health Awareness Across Campus Using a Student-Led Participatory Action Approach.
The MHNA Research Team would like to thank the MHAC Executive for their ongoing support of our study.
References
Keyes, C. L. M. (2002). The Mental Health Continuum: From Languishing to Flourishing in Life, Journal of Health and Social Behaviour, 43, 207-222.
Posted: Feb 22, 2016
Author: Mental Health Needs Assessment