Student Wellbeing
Is it an issue on your campus?
As I mentioned in the March 2018 newsletter, the students are back and here in droves getting on with their learning and other activities that make student life so much of a buzz. Now that it is close to mid-term, the carefree looks have turned to more serious looks as they have their assignments and tests to contend with before the mid-term break. Even those who think they are well-prepared show some concern, and those who have left everything to the last minute (of course I was never one of those) are valiantly trying to get everything done on time and handed in, and hopefully without having to pull an all-nighter to get there! Watching the students at this time of year made me think about all the support services we have in place for students, not only to ensure that they can succeed, but also to ensure that their wellbeing is the best it can be.
Photo by Naassom Azevedo
We all seem to have wellbeing information on our websites, and at my university (Victoria University of Wellington) we even have a SWAT or Student Wellbeing Awareness Team on campus. It is made up of current students who lead health promotion action on campus – its purpose is to ‘empower students about their own health by raising awareness and providing education about health and wellbeing.’ The group is supervised by staff of Mauri Ora (Student Health and Counselling) and meets weekly to plan wellbeing events, campaigns and projects, that promote a well-balanced life while studying.
Some of the activities we have on our campus were informed by a survey of about 5,000 students—the survey is based on the 5-item World Health Organization Wellbeing Index (WHO-5), which is an assessment tool designed to assess subjective psychological well-being. In 2017, the results of the survey showed that 43% of those surveyed said they had poor emotional wellbeing. If you think about it, they are mostly still teenagers when they come to university, and they may be dealing with living away from home for the first time, missing friends and significant others, and coping with having to study, work and take care of themselves all at the same time. It is too long ago for me to remember what happened for me, but I am not surprised that students are stressed and need help to cope.
And it is not just happening down under. The Student Experience Survey 2017 published in the Times Higher Education reported that more than 70% of students interviewed in the UK had experienced some form of emotional illness, including anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. American studies have shown similar results, and many universities there are expanding their activities here and see it as part of their mission to support the well-being of their students.
Photo by Joshua Rawson-Harris
So, what happens on your campuses and what programmes do you have in place to support students on their pathway to success?
Kathie Rabel
AAIR President
