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Mythbreaking: Mental Health and Well-being at U-M

The topic of mental health on college campuses has gained increased attention in recent years, particularly following the pandemic. The University of Michigan has responded in a number of ways, including the establishment of the Well-being Collective and the creation of both a chief mental health officer in the Division of Student Life and a chief behavioral health strategist in University Human Resources.

Yet many myths persist around student, faculty, and staff mental health needs and the infrastructures in place to support them. Experts from the University of Michigan share their insights to dispel many common assumptions around mental health on our campus.

Contributors include:

  • Jolene Bostwick, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP, Clinical Professor and Assistant Dean, University of Michigan College of Pharmacy
  • Mary Jo Desprez, MLIR, Director of Health Promotion and Wolverine Wellness which serves as the backbone structure for the Well-being Collective
  • Lindsey Mortenson, MD, MS, Executive Director of University Health & Counseling & Chief Mental Health Officer in Student Life
  • Kelcey Stratton, PhD, Chief Behavioral Health Strategist, University Human Resources

Myth: “Student mental health challenges are serious, but they impact a relatively small percentage of our student body.” 

Fact: Among the fall 2024 freshman undergraduate class, 73% reported a history of receiving mental health care prior to starting college, demonstrating a massive generational and societal shift around help-seeking. This figure would likely have been much lower when most faculty and staff at U-M started college. More people now are talking about mental health, and more people are willing to get help.

However, while students overall have more experience with mental health care, their needs and expectations are different from those a generation ago. Many institutions of higher education have simply increased counseling staff in recent years, but just adding more counselors does not alone address the larger stressors on the mental health care system.

At U-M, mental health experts have worked to strengthen supports and systems on all levels, particularly through collaborations between the Well-being Collective, University Health & Counseling, University Human Resources, and the Center on Research on Learning & Teaching (CRLT).

Most recently, CRLT and the Well-being Collective have developed a Canvas course titled, “An Instructor’s Guide to Promoting Student Mental Health and Well-being.” Modules can be completed consecutively or independently. Understanding the time pressures that instructors face, as well as the diverse experiences faculty bring to the classroom, course designers ensured the modules are self-paced and allow users to engage in whichever sections may feel most relevant.

And the recently redesigned Mental Health Continuum of Care illustrates the spectrum of resources and supports, from policies that affect the entire university to inpatient care for acute needs. Every individual may move back and forth across the continuum in different ways at different points in their life.

Myth: “My leadership or supervisor will find out if I use U-M’s mental health services.”

Fact: Mental Health Counseling and Consultation Services are completely confidential, and the licensed professional social workers and psychologists ethically and legally cannot disclose who engages in services. This includes the Faculty and Staff Counseling and Consultation Office (FASCCO) for all faculty and staff at the Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint campuses and the Office of Counseling and Workplace Resilience (OCWR) for Michigan Medicine employees.

These teams offer short-term, evidence-based counseling support and maintain separate and unique record-keeping systems that are not part of the University of Michigan Health medical record, nor have any connection to an HR or employment record.

To further support privacy and confidentiality, FASCCO and OWCR are flexible in how they offer services. Many faculty and staff choose to see a counselor via Zoom or in person. Faculty and staff are not required to disclose to their supervisors or leadership that they are participating in mental health services.

OCWR and FASCCO can also offer confidential referrals and information on additional U-M and community-based mental health resources. They understand the sensitivity of discussing mental health in a work environment, and they are committed to providing confidential, compassionate support that meets the diverse needs of our U-M community.

If you have any questions about services, or if you would like to learn more and explore options, please contact FASCCO (call 734-936-8660 or email [email protected]) or OCWR (call 734-763-5409 or email [email protected]).

Myth: “I’m not a mental health expert, so I can’t provide emotional support to students.”

Fact: Often talking with a trusted faculty or staff member who can empathize and suggest resources is just what a student may need–no expertise required. To better prepare you to feel comfortable in these conversations, you can access the new Canvas course, “An Instructor’s Guide to Promoting Student Mental Health and Well-being.” This is in addition to existing resources such as those listed on the Well-being Collective or a faculty-facing Compassionate Conversations training through Wolverine Wellness. 

But importantly, because faculty and staff are often the first people students in distress may turn to, caring for your own well-being is all the more critical. You can’t pour from an empty cup. The privilege of being a trusted resource for students can become a burden.

Please take the time to learn about and utilize resources through FASCCO or OCWR, the Well-being Collective, and MHealthy, which has many helpful emotional health resources. And remember you are not alone. According to the 2023-2024 Faculty and Staff Report from The Health Minds Study, nationally 43% of faculty and staff surveyed indicated a lifetime diagnosis of a mental health disorder, 35% indicated psychiatric medication use in the past year and 32% sought mental health therapy or counseling in the past year.  

For further information please refer to the following resources: