By Sofia B. Pertuz, PhD, External Senior Advisor, The Jed Foundation
Reading time: Four minutes
What does it mean to provide support for the whole student? Academic achievement and college access are crucial factors for sure. The National College Attainment Network (NCAN) recognizes that support for mental health and wellbeing are equally important
as students consider their transitions from high school to college and beyond.
With the support of the ECMC Foundation, NCAN began a transformative 18-month grant project called "Supporting the Whole Student Through Mental Health and Wellbeing" in 2023. The project provides
intensive technical assistance and sub-grants to six NCAN member organizations, helping them to enhance their strategies for supporting students' mental health and wellbeing.
Each organization created a plan for how they would use the grant funding. From there, they began implementation as a cohort, with guidance from The Jed Foundation (JED).
Now that the project has reached its halfway point, NCAN can share six notable insights that serve as guideposts for organizations striving to foster environments where students thrive both academically and emotionally.
Integrate Financial Support with Mental Health Initiatives The organizations have reflected on the significant impact of financial stability on students' mental health. In particular, emergency funding for basic needs has emerged
as an important element of support — the intertwined nature of financial security and mental wellness. The organizations have affirmed the importance of holistic support strategies.
Provide Mental Health Intervention Training for Staff Providing training programs, such as Mental Health First Aid and QPR,
to adults and peer leaders in the programs has proven to be effective. These trainings equip advisors and educators to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. In turn, organizations have been
able to provide access to critical support after a student's need has been identified. Incorporating mental health training into staff onboarding and adding it to employee manuals has become a best practice. That way, all staff members are prepared
to offer necessary support that students may need during critical moments.
Give Access to Licensed Social Workers to Enhance Support Not all cohort organizations were able to use their grant funding to secure dedicated licensed social workers. However, those that did found their availability for student
referrals has been a significant advantage. The licensed social workers offered students timely mental health support for those in need. Having social workers in the support ecosystem also relieved some pressure from staff— knowing they had someone
to refer students to and giving them access to comprehensive professional care.
Tailor Programming for Stress and Anxiety Almost all of the cohort organizations offered programming aimed at mitigating challenges during stressful times, such as midterms and final exams. The programs were in the form of workshops,
presentations, and courageous conversation series. They provided students — and sometimes the staff serving them — with tools and strategies to manage stress effectively, highlighting the value of timely and relevant interventions.
Leverage Expertise According to cohort organization representatives, a pivotal aspect of this project's success so far has been the expert support from organizations like JED. Technical assistance and access to expertise has
been instrumental in helping organizations design and implement their programming. This partnership exemplifies how expert support can bolster the impact of new and existing mental health and wellness initiatives.
Collaborate With a Community The organizations in the cohort have had opportunities to share ideas and approaches, which they say has been an invaluable part of this experience. At the NCAN national conference in October 2023,
some of the organizations shared their early learnings in a session that attracted a large audience, highlighting high levels of interest in how organizations integrate mental health support systems. The gathering also underscored the importance
of organizations relying on and learning from each other. The organizations shared experiences that demonstrated why a collective effort is required. No one should do this work alone. It takes strong partnerships to protect mental health and prevent
suicide.
Looking Ahead
The journey of the six NCAN member organizations has highlighted the critical role of comprehensive mental health and wellbeing strategies in supporting academic success, college access, and opportunity. By addressing the holistic needs of students, these
organizations have paved the way for a more supportive and resilient educational environment.
As the organizations enter the second half of the project, they’re working to share and implement these recommendations with each other. They also look forward to sharing more detailed insights and examples of their work with the rest of the NCAN membership
once the project has concluded.
Their learnings will continue to inform and inspire efforts to create educational spaces where all students can succeed, underscoring the inextricable link between mental wellbeing and academic achievement.
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