Prioritizing student mental health and wellbeing continues to be an imperative action point for the field of higher education and institutions are charged now more than ever with the mission of providing students with access to vital mental health resources.
According to the latest Student Voices survey of nearly 2,000 undergraduates, 56 percent of students report having fair or poor mental health and one in five students find themselves struggling with suicidal ideation. In the past, stigma and shame surrounding mental health issues often prevented students and student athletes from seeking help. However, with the uptick of students experiencing mental health issues and awareness beginning to rise, campuses are finding that their mental health centers cannot keep pace with the demand.
Though seeking ways to hire more trained mental health professionals to staff their student health service centers, institutions can also look to digital solutions to help fill in the gaps. Digital health resources have the ability to provide students with on-demand access to informational resources as well as connecting them to clinical professionals. This technology can help institutions address their students’ needs.
In fact, a new partnership to help college students and athletes access mental health care through a mobile app was launched at the 2022 College Football Mental Health Awareness Week. The Hilinski’s Hope Foundation (H3H) and the digital healthcare company Amwell are working together to provide 10 pilot campuses with vital tools and resources to help students take control of their mental health and wellbeing.
"We are facing a growing crisis. The situation is particularly difficult on college campuses, where many students are silently struggling with significant mental health challenges," said Mark Hilinski, Co-Founder of H3H. "We are honored to partner with Amwell to help extend our mutual mission of providing quality mental health resources. This new program marks an important milestone in our work, as Hilinski's Hope will have the capability to support student athletes 24/7/365 with a resource in the palm of their hand. We are proud this partnership will allow us to offer additional educational tools as well as a pathway to receiving therapeutic support to meet the nationwide calls for more behavioral health resources on college campuses."
The digital health coach mobile app formulated by Amwell will provide students with unbridled access to manage their mental health and wellbeing. Backed by numerous years of research and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy cornerstones, the self-guided program has the capability to escalate based on the individual’s input, connecting them to a coach or even a licensed therapist. The app allows for seamless access to health care in a format that is familiar and comfortable.
"Amwell behavioral health solutions are comprehensive, personalized, and effective. They are built to support individuals throughout their entire mental health journey, reducing care access barriers and improving outcomes," said Matt McCormick, Group Vice President, Amwell Behavioral Healthcare. "It's an honor to partner with H3H, who has already made a difference in the lives of so many college athletes. We look forward to helping them extend their reach and give those in need easy access to the care they deserve."