OLPD5703

Recent data from the Healthy Minds Network reported that 37% of students experienced moderate to severe depressive symptoms within the past year. Although overall student mental health has improved slightly in recent years, many college students experience feelings of anxiety, depression, and loneliness, among other conditions. Higher education professionals, including student affairs practitioners, occupy important roles in addressing students' mental health and wellness.
OLPD 5703 is a 3-credit, in person course that will critically examine research and practice with an emphasis on the exploration of mental health and wellness issues from higher education and student affairs perspectives, and the types of interventions designed to address them. Note: it is not a counseling skills or procedures course. We will examine a range of current topics (e.g., social media use; loneliness; ethics, prevention) across diverse populations and student affairs contexts, including existing disparities in mental health.
Class activities will include small and large discussions, reading reflection papers, group presentations, guest speakers, and other experiential-based learning activities. One of the primary objectives for this class is for students to develop new knowledge and practices around mental health issues, and to hone areas of inquiry around current topics of interest.

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Periodic Fall, Spring & Summer