Minding College Minds: Supporting Mental Health in Postsecondary Settings
The Meadows Institute is a trusted partner and resource for postsecondary institutions in mental health policy and practice. Drawing from our extensive experience at the intersection of community and policy work, we bring a comprehensive, multi-systems perspective to addressing mental health needs in postsecondary settings.
1 in 3
College students that meet criteria for a mental health concern like depression, anxiety, eating disorder, or self-injury *
43 to 86%
College dropout rates for students with a mental health diagnosis **
Project Details
Using our unique postsecondary mental health framework, we convene stakeholders across systems representing mental health, higher education, K-12, health care, and other sectors to collaborate on implementing programs and policies that support postsecondary mental health, wellbeing, and success.
Our Framework
Our Minding College Minds™ Postsecondary Mental Health Framework, developed with input from the Texas Success Center at the Texas Association of Community Colleges, is a public health model for supporting student mental health in university and community college settings. Using this framework, we identify structural challenges and policies that impede effective mental health support at federal, state, local, and campus levels. We also provide expertise in mental health best practices and implementation science to improve an institution’s ability to address the mental health needs of students, faculty, and staff both on campus and through community partnerships/resources. We support postsecondary institutions in better addressing student mental health by:
- Conducting comprehensive assessments of institutional strengths, challenges, and opportunities related to mental health, while offering recommendations to systematically improve efforts.
- Convening institutions of higher education in learning communities that provide thoughtful opportunities to break down siloes in higher education, learn best practices, and solve problems together.
- Establishing strategic, regional partnerships to address the needs of specific student populations.
- Bringing expertise in mental health programs and practices, serving as an honest broker to determine which tools and interventions will best serve students, faculty, and staff.
- Providing implementation support to ensure behavioral health strategies achieve the intended impact and can be sustained over time.
- Identifying community providers and supporting the development of partnerships and referral pathways.
- Innovating creative solutions to long-term challenges, such as mental health professional workforce shortages, and the roles that institutions of higher education can play in solving these challenges.
Recent Projects
Trellis Foundation Postsecondary Mental Health & Wellbeing Learning Community
This first-of-its-kind, two-year collaborative for innovative institutions of higher education in Texas is reshaping how member institutions support student and staff mental health. Made possible by the Trellis Foundation, the Learning Community aims to improve student outcomes, increase understanding of mental health and well-being needs within participating institutions, and share takeaways from this work to inform the broader postsecondary field.
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Improving Outcomes for Former Foster Children
A cross-systems project with the Center for Socioeconomic Mobility through Education at UNT Dallas to address the intersection of mental health and educational and vocational attainment for young Texans formerly in foster care.
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Additional Projects
- Dallas College Mental Health Assessment
- Minding College Minds Learning Community
- Hope Center
Speaker Series
Mental Health Messaging That Works
Episode 1, of the Texas Higher Education Series event hosted by the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute and The Hope Center at Temple University offered through the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Student Success Acceleration Program Implementation Grant.
Navigating The Mental Health Personnel Shortage
Episode 2, of the Texas Higher Education Series event hosted by the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute and The Hope Center at Temple University offered through the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Student Success Acceleration Program Implementation Grant.
Community Partnerships & Mental Health As A Basic Need
Episode 3, of the Texas Higher Education Series event hosted by the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute and The Hope Center at Temple University offered through the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Student Success Acceleration Program Implementation Grant.