Lily Huynh/The Cougar
With the excitement and stress of back to school comes shopping for supplies and dorm decor, getting a parking permit, figuring out where to get your Cougar card, and more.
But one area that many overlook is mental health, and UH has put in place programs and resources for students with mental health concerns.
A recent survey by U.S. News and Generation Lab found that 70% of students said they have struggled with their mental health since starting college.
Chris Do, assistant vice president for student health and wellbeing, stressed that there are steps students can take if they feel down.
“Strategies and protective factors for mental health and overall wellness include sleep, nutrition, physical activity and strong social connections,” Do said. “These elements help us establish good health habits and support us through life's challenges.”
He also stressed the importance of maintaining strong social connections as this helps students avoid feeling isolated.
A Pew Research Center study found that the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a decline in mental health worldwide, a view with which Do agreed.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated mental health issues that were already on the rise among students,” Do said. “The U.S. Surgeon General has called loneliness an epidemic, and it's an especially big problem in urban areas like Houston.”
Many universities across the country have instituted various programs for students and are being encouraged to prioritize their students' mental health.
In 2023, multiple suicides were reported at the University of Hawaii. Since then, the university has become more mindful of student health.
At UH, Provost and Chancellor Renu Khator appointed a Mental Health Task Force that year to review the university's mental health services.
“One of the things that came out of the suicide incident was that a lot of people on campus were really focused on the idea of how to prevent suicide and create more mental health on campus,” Do said.
Doe said UH had undergone an external review of reviewers who looked at counseling and psychological services to make sure things were being done openly.
Among the resources provided to students are Togetherall, a peer-to-peer support network, and WellTrack Boost, an app that provides learning modules, skills practice and connections to on-campus and community resources that should be installed on every student's phone, Dawe said.
If students need additional help, the university’s CAPS provides individual counselling and support.
Additionally, students have access to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and the Mental Health Support Line, a 24/7 hotline for mental health support via phone, text and chat.
The university is conducting a survey called WISHES to collect data on student well-being and use it to evaluate and improve mental health programs and services.
Current efforts include becoming a JED campus to prevent suicide and improve mental health, centralizing CAPS to improve access, and creating a crisis response team with licensed clinicians to support students in crisis.
They are also rolling out resource guides or “green folders” for all faculty and staff to help students in need.
Provide mental health training, such as questioning, persuasion, referral and mental health first aid, to equip the campus community with the skills to support students.
UH also plans to place counselors in various departments across campus to improve access to mental health services.
“We're going to be working with a number of universities to add more full-time counselors so they're not just located at Health 2,” Do said. “This will give people more access to support wherever they are and make it easier for them to get support.”
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