In a new report published today, the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) outlines ways state higher education agencies are responding to the student mental health crisis.
The SHEEO-JED Mental Health and Wellness Learning Community, launched by SHEEO and The Jed Foundation (JED) in the fall of 2023, brought together state higher education leaders, institutional leaders, practitioners, and other stakeholders to address the growing student mental health needs.
SHEEO’s new report, Building Momentum: Collaborative Solutions for State-Level Student Mental Health, provides an overview of the initiatives and insights from states participating in the inaugural learning community – including Arizona, Louisiana, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The report highlights how these collaborative efforts are shaping the future of mental health policy in higher education. From leveraging federal resources like the 988 Lifeline to implementing state-specific frameworks that align mental health with student success, these strategies represent a significant step forward in addressing the ongoing mental health crisis in meaningful and sustainable ways.
“The report examines national mental health trends and the broader legislative context while diving into specific examples that demonstrate how states expanded initiatives, cross-sector collaboration, and strategic frameworks to place student mental health at the forefront of student success,” said Sakshee Chawla, Senior Policy Analyst, and lead author of the report.
Other topics highlighted in the report include bridging gaps in access to mental health services, a look at the return on investment, the holistic value of data-driven advocacy, the behavioral health workforce crisis, and state-level innovations and temporary solutions.
Read the report to learn more: https://bit.ly/SHEEOmentalhealthsolutions
