Supporting the Whole Student through Mental Health & Wellbeing

In recent years, the need for robust mental health and wellness support for students has grown significantly. The challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, economic instability, and ongoing racial inequities have intensified stress, anxiety, and social isolation among students. These factors contribute to higher dropout rates, reduced academic performance, and longer time-to-completion for postsecondary credentials—particularly among students from low-income backgrounds and communities of color.

Recognizing these challenges, the National College Attainment Network (NCAN) is committed to empowering students to stay enrolled, persist, and achieve their academic goals. To address the critical need for mental health resources, NCAN launched an initiative, Supporting the Whole Student Through Mental Health and Wellbeing, with support from the ECMC Foundation and collaboration with The JED Foundation.

As part of this effort, six NCAN member organizations conducted needs assessments to better understand their students' mental health challenges and identify gaps in support. These assessments informed tailored action plans designed to provide meaningful, culturally competent, and accessible mental health resources.

NCAN has documented the journey and impact of these six organizations, showcasing their innovative approaches and lessons learned. These stories, along with tools, blog posts, webinars, and other resources, are available below. Our goal is to inspire and equip others in the postsecondary attainment field to strengthen their own mental health and wellness initiatives.

Additional Resources

• The JED Foundation
• Mental Health First Aid Certification
• Six Insights to Support the Whole Student Through Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Finding Mental Health Help as a College Student
• 13 Free and Low-Cost Student Mental Health Resources

NCAN is grateful to the ECMC Foundation for making this project possible.