Session Details

The New Generation of College Students & Climate Anxiety

Climate change is one of the greatest societal challenges of our time. Unlike their predecessors, the current generation of college students is acutely aware of the natural and social drivers responsible for climate change and the unjust distribution of climate change impacts, especially on vulnerable populations. Moreover, a growing number of students have not only witnessed but been personally affected by negative impacts associated with climate change such as extreme heat, fires, and floods, among others. It should come as no surprise that as a result, students are experiencing a significant mental and emotional toll.

This keynote will provide an overview of the emotional toll experienced by “the climate generation,” and offer recommendations for interventions that have already or can be deployed by higher education institutions to support the development of emotion-informed climate leaders who can transform their own and other’s anxiety into urgently needed actions to transform toward a just and sustainability society.
 

Michaela Zint, Ph.D., M.B.A., associate dean for academic affairs, School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan

Building Capacity for Transformational Change: Addressing the Mental Health Needs of Students of Color

This workshop focuses on capacity building to transform higher education agencies and institutions so that community building and equity are centered and foundational. Three areas for transformational capacity building will be discussed: trauma informed approaches, sustainable leadership, and advocacy. Innovate model programs and institutions will be showcased. Small and large work groups will be used for participants to develop ideas/programs that build capacity at their campus. Strategic pathways around obstacles that are barriers to capacity building for services and programs addressing equity in mental health for students will also be discussed.

• Jan Collins-Eaglin, Ph.D., national advisor to The Steve Fund 
• Jeanne E. Manese, Ph.D., counseling psychologist, national advisor to The Steve Fund 
• David Rivera, Ph.D., national advisor to The Steve Fund; associate professor, Queens College-City University of New York 
• Meloni Rudolph Crawford, Ph.D., assistant vice chancellor, Student Health, Wellbeing and Advocacy, University of Colorado Denver

Strengths-Based Resilience: A Positive Psychology-Based Well-being Program for Adolescents and Young Adults

The Strengths-Based Resilience Program (SBR) is a group well-being intervention for adolescents and young adults. Based on positive psychology approaches to well-being, SBR also incorporates cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness techniques. It has been delivered in high school, college and clinic settings. This workshop will provide an overview of the program, including its theoretical and empirical foundations. Through experiential activities, we will focus on four practices that can help increase young people’s awareness of their strengths, as well as their abilities to use these strengths to handle challenges and to increase connection and meaning in their lives. Each exercise will include a debrief discussion to help participants understand how to use these practices and how they can be adapted in diverse settings.

Jane Gillham, Ph.D., professor of psychology, Swarthmore College

A Framework for Whole Self Connection: Mini Workshop with Somatic Experiential, Integrative Tools and Parts Discovery

Traditional talk therapy is useful, but it is not enough. This dynamic workshop integrates innovative and research supported techniques to go beyond traditional mental health treatment. In a time of expanding divisiveness and disconnection, individuals need ways to connect not only to themselves but to one another. This experiential workshop teaches a somatic-based framework to provide empowerment and reconnection to your most authentic self. It is from that authentic and grounded center, we are then able to exist in a troubled world with more peace. Building compassion and mindfulness-based tools to navigate on-going stressors and embodied traumas, this presentation offers hope in a time of despair to all audience members.

Kerry Biskelonis, LPC, founder and clinical director, Reset Brain and Body

Living Well in College and Beyond: Student Leaders as Change Agents for Holistic Well-being

Who better to support student well-being than students themselves? Through the peer-facilitated course, Living Well in College and Beyond for Student Leaders, undergraduates at the University of Michigan develop skills as wellness ambassadors for their communities. Our presentation will equip you with the foundational elements for a wellness course and lead you through an immersive workshop highlighting our Ripple Effect activity. You will walk away with a framework to empower student leaders to be change agents for holistic well-being.

• Brett Cohen, B.S. graduate program assistant, Wolverine Wellness, University of Michigan
• Madilyn Lay, peer facilitator and program assistant, Wolverine Wellness, University of Michigan
• Joy Pehlke, M.Ed., assistant director, Wolverine Wellness, University of Michigan
• Timberlee Whiteus, M.P.H., health promotion specialist, Wolverine Wellness and adjunct lecturer, University of Michigan
• Zoe Wright, peer facilitator and program assistant, Wolverine Wellness, University of Michigan

Actionable Policy Change and Community Engagement for Mental Health on College Campuses: Perspectives

This workshop is meant to drive all members of a college institution to find ways to work together for the improvement of mental health support on campus. The panel will share their insights on their work, experiences, issues, and ideas for the future. The workshop will include an interactive portion where participants will brainstorm steps for actionable change that attendees can take back to their institutions, regardless of the role they have within their organization.

• Joanna Hua, M.S., B.A., medical student, Medical School, University of Michigan
• Scott MacLeod, co-founder, The Sophie Fund
• Lindsey Mortenson, M.D., M.S., chief mental health officer, University Health Service, University of Michigan

Opt Outside! Utilizing Outdoor, Nature-based and Adventure/Experiential Approaches to Support Students at All Levels of Care

Opt outside with us (weather permitting!) as we explore how adventure/experiential therapy activities can be used to address a variety of mental health issues, from combating loneliness in first year students to utilizing multiple first-line interventions simultaneously in a single therapy session. In this experiential play-shop we will utilize an action-reflection model to explore the use of adventure and metaphor in mental health promotion and treatment. We will also strategize how to implement outdoor programming by developing interdisciplinary partnerships with existing adventure practitioners at your institutions. Participants will leave empowered to incorporate adventure techniques into their clinical work at all levels of care, including self-care.

• Kallie England, LMSW, CYT, nature-based experiential therapist, facilitator and co-founder, Adventure Wellness Program, Adventure Leadership, University of Michigan
• Jessa Lytle, B.S., assistant director, Adventure Leadership and Summer Camps, University of Michigan 
• Anna Mausolf, M.A., program manager, Adventure Leadership, University of Michigan
• Mikaela Schulz, B.A., graduate student, School of Social Work, University of Michigan

The White-Knuckle Effect: An Alternate Explanatory Theory for High Rates of Attrition Among College Students with Mental Health Conditions

College students with mental health conditions on campus are increasing in numbers, but struggle to maintain enrollment. These students often struggle with persistence because of poor grades and mental health symptoms. This presentation will describe a 12 session, individual coaching and intervention, Focused Academic Strength Training, designed to strengthen executive functioning skills in order to better manage the mental load of being a student. This presentation will challenge previous beliefs on academic persistence of this population, and describe the White Knuckle Effect Theory which could be an alternative explanation for why students leave programs before completion.

Michelle G. Mullen, Ph.D., assistant professor, UMass Chan Medical School; senior vice president and chief impact officer, The Jed Foundation

What Does Success Look Like? Metrics, KPIs and Frameworks for Measuring and Improving Student Mental Health

There are many measures for mental health and well-being, but very little consensus about what constitutes success for institutions of higher education (IHE) support of college student mental health. Semantic differences, the multidisciplinary nature of mental health, and lack of universally agreed upon standards and outcomes are among the many barriers to identifying key performance indicators (KPIs). Fortunately there are established frameworks, measures, and SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound) goals that college health professionals can deploy to monitor and report on impact. This session will describe a framework for establishing metrics and KPIs, and provide examples of one university’s efforts to move the needle on policies, systems, and programs with data to improve student experience and mental well-being.

• Riahanah Ali, M.S., mental health project manager, University Health Service, University of Michigan
• Kamara Gardner, M.P.H., mental health project manager, University Health Service, University of Michigan
• Roen Montalva, M.S., health data analyst, University Health Service, University of Michigan
• Lindsey Mortenson, M.D., M.S., chief mental health officer and associate executive director, University Health Service, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry, University of Michigan

Serious Adverse Event Review: A New Approach for College Health

Attendees will learn about Serious Adverse Event Review from an engaging group of multidisciplinary college health experts from the University of Michigan. Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) in healthcare are defined as those events which result in permanent injury or death. Panelists will discuss how to apply principles of healthcare quality and safety in the college health setting, particularly in college mental health.  Essential topics will include recommended membership for an SAE review committee, timeline from event to review, and methods for maintenance of confidentiality and legal protection of SAE review. This expert panel will present materials suited to various learning styles via inclusion of a formal didactic portion, interactive case review, and a question and answer session.

• Kelly Cruz, J.D., associate general counsel, Office of the Vice President and General Counsel, University of Michigan
• Jim Dolan, Ph.D., LP, associate director of clinical services, Counseling and Psychological Services, University of Michigan
• Chris Frank, M.D., Ph.D., medical director, University Health Service, University of Michigan
• Victor Hong, M.D., clinical associate professor, medical director of psychiatric emergency services and associate director of adult hospital services, Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan
• Brianna LoPiccolo, LMSW, clinical social worker, University Health Service, University of Michigan
• Angela McGrady, M.D., M.P.H., staff physician, University Health Service, University of Michigan

Toward the Prevention of Mental Health Problems Among Incoming Students in Their First Semester at Higher Education Institutions: Lessons Learned from Four Prospective Cohort Studies

This presentation will describe lessons learned from four prospective cohort studies evaluating mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety, life satisfaction, and psychosocial impairment) of incoming college students during their first semester at a new postsecondary institution. Our aim is to demonstrate how these longitudinal data sets can inform preventive care. We will highlight the role of key etiological processes in the development of mental health problems, including belongingness and isolation, discrimination, sexual consent and victimization, negative repetitive thinking, academic expectations, and the experience of adverse childhood events.

• Steven Brunwasser, Ph.D., assistant professor, Rowan University; adjunct research assistant professor of medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
• Katherine Gotham, Ph.D., assistant professor, Rowan University
• Nicole Kelso, M.P.S., doctoral student, clinical psychology, Rowan University
• Erin McKenney M.A., doctoral candidate, clinical psychology, Rowan University

Evolving Mental Health Care at Community Colleges: Barriers, Innovations, and Future Directions

This concurrent session will present recent findings from the Mental Health Improvement through Community Colleges (MHICC) program, which focuses on expanding access to mental health resources for students attending Michigan community colleges. We will focus on describing how community college mental health care is evolving, looking specifically at the shifting from a “dual-role” model of care to having dedicated mental health professionals on campus. We will also share findings from an ongoing pilot study aimed at partnering with community colleges to increase mental health care capacity, and an annual survey of community colleges that will systematically query existing resources, capacity and barriers to mental health service provision.

• Sara Abelson, Ph.D., M.P.H., assistant professor, Department of Urban Health & Population Science, Temple University School of Medicine; senior director, The Hope Center
• Alex Ammann, M.P.H., research area specialist associate, University of Michigan
• Timothy Mayer, B.A., master's candidate and research assistant, School of Public Health, University of Michigan
• Amy Rusch, M.P.H., research area specialist, Department of Health Management and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Michigan
• Shawna Smith, Ph.D., John G. Searle Assistant Professor of Health Management and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Michigan

A Comprehensive Partnership Model for College Suicide Prevention Programs

This presentation underscores the need for college suicide prevention programs, focusing on “RUOK? Buckeyes,” an innovative online mental health screening initiative currently being used at a large, public, midwestern university. The program stands out for its comprehensive partnership model, involving students, faculty, administrators, and decision-makers. It aligns with contemporary suicide prevention strategies, emphasizing data-driven approaches, community collaborations, and policy advocacy. The presentation will guide participants through the components of this comprehensive suicide prevention program while exploring ways to individualize the program in different institutional contexts.

• Laura Lewis, M.A., LPCC-S, assistant director, The Ohio State University Suicide Prevention Program
• Mickey Lin, M.Ed., NCC, doctoral student, graduate teaching assistant, The Ohio State University Suicide Prevention Program

Accommodating and Holistically Supporting Transgender College Students with Mental Health Disabilities

With the number of students across institutions needing disability accommodations under the ADA surging, transgender and gender non-conforming students face compounded challenges due to their intersectional minoritized statuses. In this presentation, participants will learn about intersectionality and minority stress theory in students that identify as both transgender/gender non-conforming and disabled, and leave with a better understanding of how they can effectively partner with others on college campuses to holistically support these students.

• Jackie Heymann, M.A., disability access coordinator, Student Accessibility and Accommodation Services, University of Michigan
• Kat Nic, M.Div., disability access coordinator, Services for Students with Disabilities, University of Michigan

Securing Student Basic Needs: An Upstream Approach for Improving Mental Health

Basic needs insecurity is common among college students and associated with mental health problems. Interventions to reduce basic needs insecurity have been shown to improve mental health. This session will provide an overview of college students’ experiences of basic needs insecurity (via data from new national estimates and The Hope Center). Presenters will share current partnerships and strategies being pursued across the state of Michigan to secure college students’ basic needs. Based on lessons learned from multiple state-wide initiatives, presenters will share institutional and state-level strategies, policies and opportunities for increasing food, housing, child care, and financial security among college students to improve student mental health. Attendees will discuss and explore innovative ways higher education can respond to the full suite of needs faced by todays’ students and support mental health with resources beyond the counseling center.

• Sara Abelson, Ph.D., M.P.H., assistant professor, Department of Urban Health & Population Science, Temple University School of Medicine; senior director, The Hope Center
• Camara Lewis, B.A., community outreach strategist, Office of Sixty by 30, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity
• Precious Miller, LMSW, director, Basic Needs and Belonging, Michigan Community College Association 

Integrative Wellness Pop-Up BIPOC Barber Shop

“How can I feel at home here, when I can’t even get something as simple as a haircut on campus?” This presentation will highlight a peer-led campus project that aimed to cultivate a culturally significant and wellness-informed environment for BIPOC male-identifying individuals on the campus of a Predominately White Institution. Aspects of the project’s integrative wellness approach, development and implementation process, and cultural inclusion considerations will be highlighted. Also, the presentation will showcase the impact of peer-led facilitation, intergenerational connection, methods for supporting BIPOC entrepreneurs, and the strategic entry points for discussing sensitive topics with BIPOC male-identifying individuals.

Brandon Bond, M.P.H., LLMSW, CHES, mental health and well-being student advocate consultant,  University of Michigan

A Microaffirmation Approach Toward Understanding Mental Health and Well-Being Among Black Male College Students

This presentation will introduce the concept of microaffirmations, small gestures that help create an inclusive environment. Join this session to learn more about the phenomenon and how they can serve as a framework to potentially improve depressive symptoms for Black male college students. 

• James M. Ellis, Ph.D., assistant professor, School of Social Work and Marsal Family School of Education, University of Michigan
• Leon Mason, M.Ed., research associate, School of Social Work, University of Michigan

STEER College Support Program

STEER provides individualized mentorship, services and financial support to ensure students thrive academically, develop socially and emotionally, and excel athletically. STEER removes obstacles that inhibit holistic student development and provides alternative positive support. This support allows program participants to develop college and career readiness skills and personal competencies that will empower them to become positive contributors in a global society while improving family and community outcomes.

• Joseph Durney, Ed.D., chief executive officer, STEER for Student Athletes
• Jordan Lewis, B.A., communications, social media and marketing coordinator, STEER For Student Athletes
• Hector R. Morales-Negron, Ph.D., CMPC, ACSM-CPT, director of peak mental game, optimal performance education, STEER for Student Athletes
• Astrid Vargas, M.A., director of college and alumni engagement, STEER for Student Athletes

Disabusing Disability^TM: Demonstrating That DISability Doesn't Mean INability

Disability, and mental health as an aspect of disability, are regularly neglected in conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion, yet disability is the one demographic that we may all identify with one day. Therefore, disability should serve as a means of demonstrating that we are all much more similar than we are different. As a disabled, black, Nigerian, immigrant, cis-gender heterosexual, male, physician, athlete this presentation will talk about the intersectionality between all of those identities, striving to demonstrate that disability is not inability, and encouraging us to allow people to demonstrate what they can do, rather than attempting to limit them based on what they can’t; Okanlami will also focus on the mental health aspect of disability, hopefully to engage you all in conversation about what each of us can do, within our own spheres of influence to make sure we are not perpetuating ableism in our personal, academic, and professional lives.

Oluwaferanmi "Dr. O" Okanlami, M.D., M.S., director, Student Accessibility and Accommodation Services, University of Michigan; clinical assistant professor, Michigan Medicine