UCI School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences Aims to Expand Student Mental Health Resources with Programs Funded by UC Equity in Mental Health Initiative
The number of college students reporting deterioration in their mental health and experiencing depressive symptoms, anxiety, and elevated stress levels has reached a historical high.
According to the Fall 2022 American College Student Health Survey, more than 75% of college students reported moderate to serious psychological distress, and more than 25% of college students reported that they had thought about or attempted suicide within the last year.
In response to this national trend, the Budget Act of 2021 (California Assembly Bill 128) approved $15 million in ongoing funds to address student mental health needs at the University of California.
The UC Equity in Mental Health Initiative provides one-time funding to support key mental health initiatives throughout the UC campuses. Three initiatives spearheaded by the UCI School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences have been funded over the next year.
“Today, in the post-pandemic era, it is crucial for academic institutions to recognize and address the prevailing mental health challenges faced by students,” says Dr. Mahtab Jafari. “The UC Equity in Mental Health Initiative represents a significant stride towards providing the necessary support and assistance to improve students’ mental well-being.”
The following three programs aim to improve the mental health of students in the UCI School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences. They will be implemented in the 2023-2024 academic year.
“Faculty Mentorship Training to Improve the Underrepresented Minority (URM) Graduate Student Experience”
Project Leaders:
- Megan Nguyen, Founding Associate Dean of Pharmacy Student Affairs, Department of Clinical Pharmacy Practice
- Jill Richardson, Director of Student Affairs
- Hetty Ha, PharmD Academic Officer
The proposed program will provide formal faculty mentor training with sessions that focus on cultural competence and personal bias. The goals include improving graduate student — especially URM student — experiences in each doctoral program and improving faculty’s perceived mentoring skills.
“Nature Wellness Stations to Promote UCI Students’ Mental Health”
Project Leaders:
- Mahtab Jafari, Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Benis Egoh, Assistant Professor
- Jessica Pratt, Associate Professor of Teaching, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
The goal of this program is to improve students’ mental health and personal and academic success by installing nature wellness stations across the UCI campus. These stations will include an overview of nature therapy, activities encouraging students to mindfully interact with nature, and a QR code for students to share their experience and motivate their peers to engage with nature.
“P2 PharmD Mental Health First Aid Instructor Training.”
Project Leaders:
- Erin Knox, Director of Experiential Pharmacy Education
- Negar Shekarabi, Coordinator of Faculty & Staff Support Services, Samueli Institute for Integrative Medicine
- Dyan Hall, Engagement & Wellness Specialist, UCI Human Resources
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a training program that allows participants to develop the skills needed to provide initial support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. This training is incorporated in the curriculum for student pharmacists. The course is facilitated by faculty and staff at UCI, and with this grant, up to three student pharmacists in the UCI Doctor of Pharmacy program will be trained to become MHFA instructors.