AUSTIN, Texas — University of Texas at Austin junior Anna Monleon is no stranger to answering tough questions.
“With the pressures of a very hard school and hard academic rigors, there are a lot of mental health issues and stresses,” Monleon said.
However, as a neuroscience and psychology major, she appreciates a new survey aimed at improving student mental health through a collaborative effort.
“It’s not easy to always have those opportunities and resources directly handed to you,” Monleon said. “The survey is a really good to talk about mental health and have an outlet for it.”
One of the key pieces of the new College Student Mental Wellness Advocacy Coalition, 24 leading housing providers and nonprofit groups such as the Austin-based, Hi, How Are You Project, have set out to poll nearly 800,000 students across Texas and the United States.
“We just kind of expected or hoped they’d be able do it independently and we’re realized this is so hard to navigate,” adult psychiatrist and HHAYP board member, Dr. Sonia Krishna said. “It would be nice to catch them or help them earlier.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, up to 75% of struggling students are reluctant to seek help for mental health issues. A study by the Journal of Anxiety & Depression added nearly 1 in 4 students will be diagnosed with a mental illness and 1 in 5 have contemplated suicide.
“As adults, we think we know, but we need to hear from them,” Krishna said. “This generation is very vocal. They just need to be asked.”
The hope for those at the project forefront is the data collected will work toward changing that narrative when it’s released early next year.
“American Campus Communities has partnered with the Hi How Are You Project for the past four years,” AAC Executive Director and HHAYP Board Member, Gina Cowart said. “Our staff that interacts with students have expressed a need to have more training, have more resources that they can use to engage with our residents. Its been identified as a great initiative. This is just the beginning and we can’t wait to grow it.”
The survey began Monday in connecting with World Mental Heath Day and will be conducted alongside Ipsos, a worldwide research firm.