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By JASON GONZALEZ  

Adriana Grijalva withdrew from her circle of friends. Events of any kind, especially school activities, had lost their appeal. At the August Convening on College Student Mental Health and Well-being in Phoenix, the University of �¼������ϲ� junior and student body president recounted her past personal struggle with depression. Feeling alone and overwhelmed, Grijalva realized she needed support. 

“It wasn’t easy to ask for help,” Grijalva said. “But I learned that it is OK not be OK sometimes. It’s not admitting that you’re not strong enough. Honestly, it’s really brave to ask.” 

Over half of students surveyed in the said their mental health worsened during college. Over three-quarters of college students experience moderate to serious psychological distress. Post the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a worldwide shift in prioritizing mental health, especially on college campuses. Nearly 70% of university presidents have identified student mental health among their most pressing issues. 

Throughout 2024, the �¼������ϲ� Board of Regents and student health leaders from the state’s three public universities are tackling these issues by participating in the inaugural Student Mental Health and Wellness Learning Community. The 15-month collaborative project is sponsored by the ���Ի� , a leading national nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for teens and young adults.  

In partnership with the SHEEO learning community, the board hosted the August student mental health convening to facilitate the development and implementation of state- and system-wide policy recommendations. These recommendations will focus on collaborative strategies and innovative solutions aimed at bolstering institutions’ ability to effectively promote and support student mental health. 

�¼������ϲ� was selected as one of five states — including Louisiana, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Texas — to participate in the mental health initiative launched in October 2023. Each state received a $25,000 planning grant to develop and implement tailored policy recommendations, addressing the unique context of their respective institutions.  

“We are very proud to be part of this vital initiative and to have these really important conversations with our colleagues and leaders from other states,” said Roxanne Murphy, �¼������ϲ� director of postsecondary attainment. “Our work together has been powerful and we are hopeful that our recommendations will be impactful and help elevate this issue.”  

In introductory remarks via a video message at the convening, �¼������ϲ� Gov. Katie Hobbs shared, “Being a college student comes with so many stressors. … As leaders, it is so important we start recognizing these realities and making our students feel seen. 

“I want to commend the work already being done by ASU, U of A and NAU to support the mental health needs of our students. I’m really pleased to hear about �¼������ϲ�’s participation with SHEEO’s student mental health and wellness community, which is serving as a catalyst for today’s conversation.”  

The SHEEO learning community’s statewide and national collaboration brings together key stakeholders through regular virtual check-ins, in-person student listening sessions, and flagship events. At August’s state convening, Melissa Griffin, Northern �¼������ϲ� University’s director of health services, witnessed tangible results from the collaborative efforts. As a presenter and discussion leader, Griffin said she was inspired by the active participation of state leaders and the dynamic synergy that emerged. �į 

Aaron Krasnow, �¼������ϲ� State University’s associate vice president of counseling services, played a pivotal role in this synergy. By providing a collective voice throughout group discussions, he highlighted the importance of systems-level and grassroots approaches to enhance student mental health services. Krasnow also challenged the social stigma surrounding mental health, emphasizing the need to recognize struggles as not a sign of personal weakness. 

Representing 40,000 U of A undergraduates, Grijalva’s testimony at the convening underscored the need to address student mental health. “We need to make sure students feel comfortable to ask for help,” she said. “It’s OK to need support and help. … [It helped me be] where I am today.”   

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�¼������ϲ�’s public universities offer significant mental health resources for students and their campus communities – , and . For more student mental health testimonials, please visit the . �į