Students at Central Connecticut State University received an email on Monday announcing a campus-wide survey about student mental health.
Dr. John Tully, interim vice president of Student Affairs at CCSU, said in the email that the purpose of the Healthy Minds Study is to “better understand student mental health and well-being, sources of support, and other mental and emotional health topics.”
Amelia Joss, an undergraduate research assistant and member of the communications team, said that Healthy Minds Network has worked with over 400 schools around the United States, including others from Connecticut such as Southern Connecticut State University.
“We provide data to higher-education institutions to further inform their mental health policies for students,” Joss said. “We hope that this information can be used to strengthen grant applications, evaluate and advocate for existing mental health programs, and raise awareness for mental health issues on campus.”
The Healthy Minds Study from 2021 found that 41% of students had depression overall, 34% had anxiety disorder, 13% had suicidal ideation in the past year, and 12% reported an eating disorder.
Joss said the Healthy Minds Study launched in 2007 and their principal investigators are faculty at Boston University, University of California, Los Angeles, Wayne State University, and University of Michigan.
Joss said that she is not directly involved in school recruitment, but CCSU is a part of the Jed Foundation’s partnership with Healthy Minds Study. She said the Jed Foundations often facilitates their connection with potential schools.
According to the Healthy Minds Network’s website, the study is confidential and students can provide feedback using an anonymous form.
Tully’s email said that participants are entered into a sweepstakes conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan School of Public Health for one of two $500 prizes or one of 10 $100 prizes and are eligible for a random drawing for Amazon and Barnes & Noble gift cards at CCSU.
A 2014 study by the Department of Telecommunication at Michigan State University found that sweepstake drawings announced via email are “somewhat effective” compared to no incentives, but do not ensure the desired amount of responses.
After Tully told students about the sweepstakes and provided them with a link to the study, he said that the success of the study “depends on gathering the diverse perspectives of all types of students,” and their participation is “key.”
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