Student health and wellbeing is a top priority at the Capstone and in the Division of Student Life, escalated by recent challenging times. UA promotes a holistic view of student wellness that considers the totality of the student experience and has research and data to assist in meeting students’ individual needs. One key tool utilized by the Counseling Center that assists in identifying and helping our students is the MindKare Mental Health Kiosk, the first of which debuted in the Ferguson Center in fall 2018. It initially served to alleviate a 61% increase in Counseling Center clients over a five-year period (where enrollment was growing at only 10%). The kiosk includes a discreet touch screen display to provide users with a seamless experience as they navigate through educational information about mental health conditions, a screening assessment and local treatment resources. This kiosk has helped screen and provide guidance to more than 500 students during the 2019-2020 academic year.
Our students need our support more than ever. Currently, 30% of students seeking counseling services indicate they are doing so because of COVID-19 related factors. Students were also selected at random to participate in a survey regarding their state of well-being during the fall 2020. Of those surveyed, 93% indicated that they were experiencing some level of stress. Results from this survey also specified a 22% decline in social wellbeing versus the same time last year.
Student Life’s goal is to raise $15,000 to place another MindKare Kiosk at a second hub on campus to help provide students with available resources for their health and wellbeing. The Division of Student Life and the Counseling Center hope the expansion of this initiative will connect students to their community, promote mental health awareness, and provide those in need with the resources to seek help.
