Supporting Student Mental Health: Guidance for Faculty Workshop
For anyone teaching at the college level these days, student mental health is an increasing concern. Our students are facing significant stressors, exacerbated by COVID, and all too often find themselves struggling. This affects their ability to learn the course content we share with them, and to make the most of their time in college. At their worst, these mental health challenges can lead to serious consequences, including suicide (rates are increasing among college students) and self-harming behaviors, including drug and alcohol abuse.
Faculty are not trained therapists, and we should not act as if we are. But there are things we can do, and should do, to support our students in their time of need. This can include knowing the resources to which we can direct students, but can also include ways to communicate with students in a supportive manner as they face these challenges.
The FDC and CAPS staff came together in this session to talk about these issues, and about what faculty can do to support students. We discussed data, investigated scenarios, and shared ways we can address this challenging, but vitally important, part of our job.
The registration deadline for this session has passed. To view the PowerPoint slides from this session, please click the link below.