The Healthy Minds Study: Why we need your help? - A Student’s Perspective

Experiences with anxiety and depression are well-documented in the post-secondary student population (Center for Collegiate Mental Health), so institutions should have comprehensive programs that help students become attuned to (1) mental health concerns in themselves and their peers, (2) structures that equip students and staff with tools and resources to address concerns proactively. 

The Healthy Minds Study is designed to assess the health behaviors, experiences, and campus resources used by students. Data collected from the survey will help the institution understand how efforts to support its students can be improved and what specific areas students feel are most important to address. Student participation is key to maximizing the potential impact of the data collected. 

My experiences have taught me that academic success is only possible if a student is in good mental health. Since it’s not always easy to evaluate the status of your own mental health, having institutional support may be essential to student persistence.

My personal experience with mental health as an undergraduate student informs my practice today as an aspiring student affairs professional and is the reason I am so passionate about the Healthy Minds Study. In 2014, I was a high school graduate who got accepted to their dream college; a small liberal arts institution situated over the bay on the west coast of Florida away from home. Fast forward one and a half years later, I was medically withdrawing from my dream institution because I could not cope with the stress from my coursework and the anxiety over relationship building. I was depressed and confused about my purpose and place.

I resorted to negative coping behaviors to deal with my anxiety and depression which made it difficult for me to focus on my coursework and relate to others in social spaces. But I wasn’t conscious of how these behaviors were impacting me until I failed a class and my relationships suffered. I didn’t start seeing a campus counselor until things started getting really bad. By that time, I had convinced myself it “wasn’t working” for me, and I started missing my appointments. Shortly after came my withdrawal from the university, and I was on my way home thinking I wasn’t cut out for university. 

While home, I started cognitive behavioral therapy. A few years and a ton of effort later, I am now a thriving graduate student ready to advocate for meaningful institutional change that will help students feel more supported by their school and make it less likely for students to have an experience similar to mine. 

Throughout my experience, I distinctly recall not feeling supported by my institution, and I do not want that to be a reality for FAU students. Each individual’s input in the Healthy Minds Study will help our institution make invaluable changes to structures and programs to better support us. I encourage you to “help us help you” and make FAU the supportive healthy environment we strive to be.