Support for Students
Improving Mental Health of Student Parents: A Framework For Higher Education, 2021 (PDF/5.05 Megabytes)
This framework, provided by Ascend at the Aspen Institute and The Jed Foundation, contains guidance for administrators, faculty, and staff at higher education institutions to help them better understand how they can support the mental and emotional well-being of parenting students.
Taking a Leave of Absence: A Guide for College Students, 2021 (opens new window)
Provided by the Ruderman Family Foundation in partnership with Active Minds, this guide is designed to assist students with organizing their request for a leave of absence. It also provides suggestions for what to do while on leave and gives recommendations on how to return from a leave of absence. Students who find that their school's leave of absence policies are lacking may be interested in checking out the Transform Your Campus: Leave of Absence Guide, 2018 (PDF/.528 Megabytes) provided by the Active Minds Leave of Absence Policy Campaign (opens new window). This guide is designed to help students advocate for improved leave of absence policies on their campus. The guide assists students with evaluating their campus's current policies, helps them to identify weaknesses in those policies, and shows them how to draft policy amendments. From there it shows students how to gather support and recruit allies in their quest for policy change. Guidance on the final step, writing revised policies, is also provided.
Recommendations to Shape a
Positive Mental Health Climate on College Campuses with and through Peer-to-Peer Networks, 2019 (PDF/2.20 Megabytes)
This report offers recommendations for students, administrators, staff, and faculty in order to help them duplicate the success of the Active Mind's peer-to-peer model to improve mental health outcomes on their campuses.
Beyond Awareness: Student-Led Innovation in Campus Mental Health, 2018 (PDF/6.47 Megabytes)
Created with input from Mental Health America's Collegiate Mental Health Innovation Council (CMHIC), this report spotlights the potential impact on mental health on higher education campuses that can be made from focusing on three main areas: peer support, disability supports, and technology. The report includes information on research, viewpoints, and programs from the CMHIC as they pertain to these three areas.
Starting the Conversation: College and Your Mental Health, 2016 (PDF/2.69 Megabytes)
This guide is provided by The Jed Foundation and the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) and is for both parents and students. The guide provides crucial information about mental health issues in higher education settings. For parents, it provides steps that can be taken to give as needed support to their students. Students are encouraged to use the information to begin a discussion about mental health.
Seize the Awkward Campaign (opens new window)
Concerned about a friend who is struggling with their mental health? Reaching out to support them is important. Here is some helpful advice to start the conversation. This website includes brief-videos and a campus toolkit for implementation.
Transform Your Campus: Advocacy Guide (opens new window)
Created by Active Minds, Transform Your Campus® is a program that features guides for student leaders that they can use to implement advocacy campaigns on their campuses. Guides are available free of charge (some do require the completion of a brief form to access) and feature actionable ideas gathered from the successful nationwide efforts of college based Active Minds chapters.
Ulifeline-Resources for College Mental Health (opens new window)
An anonymous, confidential, online resource center, where college students can be comfortable searching for the information they need and want regarding emotional health.
Student-Led Organizations:
Active Minds Chapter Network (opens new window)
Started by students for students, these chapters can be found at colleges & universities in addition to high schools. They can include as many as 300 members and are designed to create an environment where students can feel comfortable talking about mental health. Additionally, chapter members organize events to increase mental health awareness, distribute resources, advocate for policy changes, and act as the student voice on health-related committees.
NAMI on Campus (opens new window)
Be a part of the largest grassroots mental health organization in America! From the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), comes a club that can be started by students for students. By starting a NAMI on Campus club at your school you will be able to raise mental health awareness, educate your peers, advocate for improved mental health services, and support peers with NAMI programs and trainings.
Self-Evaluation Tools:
ULifeline Self Evaluator (opens new window)
This self-evaluation tool offers students the ability to utilize one of four available screeners for the purposes of screening for depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), eating disorders (SCOFF), and substance use disorders (CAGE-AID). Optionally, students may enter the name of their school, which will allow the screener to provide them information on resources that are specific to their campus.
Help Yourself. Help Others. (opens new window)
From MindWise Innovations, comes this self-assessment tool that can be used to assess the emotional health of you or a loved one. They offer a wide variety of screeners for various conditions including depression, anxiety, PTSD, bi-polar, psychosis, substance use (with specific screenings for alcohol and opioid use), gambling, and eating disorders. They also offer a well-being screener that measures life satisfaction. Resources and recommendations are provided following the completion of each screener.