Supporting Student Success Through Improved Well-being

The Student Well-being Fund supports wellness efforts aimed at enhancing student success and well-being using data-driven and evidence-based programming.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, student mental health has been an increasing concern for colleges and universities. Even while the pandemic has brought new mental health challenges for students, many campus and system leaders, administrators, clinicians, faculty, staff, and students know that student mental health has long been a rising concern.

Student well-being is inherently important, and mental health distress also has significant impacts on student’s academic achievement, learning and retention.^[1]   

 At the University of Montana, students report significant levels of stress, anxiety, and psychological distress.[2]   These mental health challenges negatively impact the overall student experience as well as achievement inside and outside the classroom.

• 44.5% of UM students report stress impeding academic achievement

• 37% of UM students report anxiety impeding academic achievement, a 12.5% increase since March 2020  

• 83% of UM students report moderate to high levels of stress during the past year, a 2.5 % increase since March 2020 

• 47.3% of UM students report moderate to serious levels of psychological distress during the past year, an 8% increase since March 2020 

Gifts to the Student Well-being Fund support the following programs:

Wellness Minutes are brief skill-based interventions presented in the classroom setting.  This program provides wellness education, skill building and tips on habit integration. 

Health Coaching is designed to help students improve their overall health and academic success.  The client-directed sessions focus on areas such as stress, sleep, exercise, time management.

Peer Health Education The peer education model is widely known to be one of the most effective ways to engage college students around their health.  Our nationally-recognized peer health education program provides campus outreach and educational programming in a variety of settings.  Our peer health educators can earn academic credit and receive invaluable pre-professional experience in public and community health.

[1] Cohen, 2006; California Education Supports Project, 2009; Deberrard et al., 2004; Hoffman, 2002; Morrison & Kirby, 2010; Shochet et al., 2006

[2] UM National College Health Assessment 2020, 2021

Student Well-being Fund

To make a gift, please complete the form below.