Healthy Minds Survey inquires of students regarding mental health

On Wednesday, the University will introduce the Healthy Minds Survey, which seeks input from all undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees about their current mental wellness, alongside their knowledge and usage of Harvard’s mental health services and support. Supported by the Provost Office of Student Affairs and University Health Services, the confidential survey will remain open until April 23.

This survey, conceived at the University of Michigan and conducted at numerous colleges and universities across the nation, will furnish Harvard with national benchmarking data to assess progress and identify obstacles concerning student mental health. It represents one of a series of actions Harvard has embarked on following the University’s Report of the Task Force on Managing Student Mental Health published in 2020.

To delve deeper into the survey and its intended use by the University, the Gazette spoke with Robin Glover, associate provost for student affairs, and Giang Nguyen, associate provost for campus health and well-being and executive director of Harvard University Health Services.

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What is the Healthy Minds Survey?

Glover: The Healthy Minds Survey is a national assessment originating from the University of Michigan that has yielded data for over 15 years on the mental health conditions of students at colleges and universities throughout the U.S. It encompasses many of the inquiries we wished to pose to our students concerning their mental wellness and whether the current resources and support we provide cater to their needs. Without posing these questions, we cannot accurately gauge our effectiveness. This data will guide alterations to the services and resources offered to our students.

Nguyen: The Healthy Minds Survey will further aid us in evaluating our position within the broader context of college and university student mental health requirements nationwide. Although the University has recently conducted other assessments, like the HESMA and Pulse surveys, Healthy Minds stands out as the sole comprehensive survey targeting student mental health, benchmarked with other institutions.

How will the survey’s findings be utilized?

Nguyen: In light of earlier evaluations of student mental health experiences, we’ve enhanced student access to mental health support by launching the 24/7 CAMHS Cares phone support line, facilitating access to TimelyCare for virtual mental health consultations, and establishing a new clinical access coordinator team manned by licensed CAMHS clinicians. Additionally, we’ve introduced educational initiatives across the campus to address mental health challenges. The Healthy Minds Survey aims to determine whether our students are aware of these resources, their experiences with them, and which services require enhancement or addition.

Conducting periodic surveys to assess students’ experiences and requirements related to health, particularly mental well-being, is essential for public health. Thus, we foresee carrying out additional surveys every three years moving forward.

Why does this survey hold significance, and why should students participate?

Glover: We strongly urge every invited student — all undergraduate and graduate students — to participate in the survey. We want to capture a wide array of voices and viewpoints. This will allow us to assemble a thorough understanding of our students’ mental health states and gather insights regarding the programs we provide. A diverse response across the University is vital, as an undergraduate student’s experience can differ significantly from that of a graduate student, and professional students at the Medical School may have different experiences compared to those at the Business School.

What kind of inquiries will be featured, and how long will it take?

Nguyen: Besides asking about knowledge and use of campus mental health services, we request students to anonymously contribute their personal experiences related to mental health, which might encompass topics like depression, anxiety, body image concerns, or various mental health diagnoses. We also inquire about their sense of community connection, as well as experiences with trauma or substance misuse in the past. This input is invaluable for us to comprehend, directly, the experiences of our students.

Glover: The entire survey will take roughly 25 minutes to complete, and we acknowledge that this is a significant commitment. To express our gratitude for their time, participants will receive a $15 gift card upon completing the survey. Students may opt out of the survey at any moment or can pause and resume later using their personal survey link.

Mental health can be a challenging subject. How will the responses be kept confidential?

Nguyen: The team responsible for the national Healthy Minds Study has been managing this since 2007. They understand the delicate nature of this topic for participants and have devised very considerate strategies to ensure the protection of students’ privacy.

Glover: That is accurate. They are contractually obligated to anonymize all responses and will not compile or maintain any internal connection logs with IP addresses. There will be no information connecting a student’s identity to their survey answers, including incomplete responses, accessible to Harvard, any other participating institutions, or any third party that may interface with the anonymized data.

Why is it essential for Harvard to persist in investing in student mental health awareness initiatives and resources?

Nguyen: We have recognized that throughout their academic journey, our students encounter various challenges. These challenges can stem from campus life or broader societal issues. Our aim is to support our students along their educational path at Harvard by assisting them in addressing their well-being and fostering their capacity to enhance well-being across all its dimensions. We acknowledge that emotional wellness is one of the most important aspects of overall well-being.

Glover: Our undergraduate and graduate students spend one to several years, sometimes as many as seven. During that time, Harvard becomes their home and community. We must ensure we provide them with all the necessary services and support to promote their well-being, while ensuring they feel comfortable accessing those services and resources promptly and without judgment.

It is critical for all of us to realize that mental health is equally as vital as physical health. When someone mentions they are undergoing a physical check-up, it rarely raises eyebrows. We aspire for the same acceptance in caring for mental health.