UNC-Chapel Hill’s abundance of resources supporting student mental health and well-being services has received recognition from The Princeton Review’s inaugural mental health services honor roll, landing among 16 top undergraduate institutions.
The yearlong, multifaceted project used survey data from administrators at more than 2,000 colleges, including 52 questions about mental health and wellness services for students. The review also surveyed college students about their awareness of mental health services and resources. The honor roll is an alphabetical (not ranked) list.
In its citation, The Princeton Review noted several aspects of Carolina’s culture of compassion and care, including a focus on student well-being and providing members of the Carolina community resources they need in the format that work best for them.
Amy Johnson, vice chancellor for student affairs, said that a primary aim over the last four years has been to reduce stigma, encourage help-seeking behavior, and make it easier for the Carolina community to connect with its wide array of services.
“In partnership with colleagues across campus, we have been hard at work to augment our mental health offerings, promote both clinical and nonclinical resources, and create a campuswide conversation about mental health and well-being,” she said.
For the honor roll initiative, The Princeton Review focused on students’ quality of life and how that enhances their well-being, how schools empower their students to address their own mental health through education programs and peer-to-peer offerings, and administrative support for campus mental health and well-being.
“We’re thrilled to see the University recognized in this way and, most importantly, to observe that our efforts are having an impact on our community,” Johnson said.
Specifically, the honor roll noted the following efforts:
- The Heels Care Network is a comprehensive mental health resource for our Tar Heel community to come together in support of each other and access the abundance of mental health and well-being resources at Carolina.
- Counseling and Psychological Services, which provides brief therapy sessions or a referral to nearby providers, also facilitates a multicultural health program, has no waitlist for its services, and maintains a CAPS phone line, open around the clock.
- Mental health seminars range in topics from enhancing sleep to tips to how to stay calm.
- The peer-to-peer Listen, Support, Navigate program allows students to engage in confidential live chats with other students.
- Togetherall is an online peer support community where students can receive support 24/7 in a safe, anonymous online space.
- Every Brilliant Thing is a theater production alongside PlayMakers Repertory Company that delved into topics of mental health and well-being as its central character grapples with their own life experiences in the shadow of their mother’s depression.