Presenter:
Kayla Thayer
Research has consistently demonstrated higher rates of anxiety, depression, and stress in university undergraduate students, with a rapid decline in undergraduate mental health over the past decade (Duffy et al., 2019; Mofatteh, 2021; Nurius et al., 2023). These mental health concerns are associated with poorer academic performance, increased likelihood of dropout, increased rates of diagnosable mental health conditions, poorer quality of life and life satisfaction, increased substance and alcohol use, and increased risk of suicide (BlackDeer et al., 2020; Eisenberg et al., 2009; Fauzi et al., 2021; Mofatteh, 2021; Nurius et al., 2023). The Student Wellness and emotional Growth Resiliency (SWAG-R) Program is a 6-week, free, one-on-one coaching intervention in which NSU undergraduate students learn evidence-based cognitive tools and adaptive coping skills. SWAG-R is currently being pilot tested to determine if the program is effective in decreasing student anxiety, depression, and stress, and improving quality of life, life satisfaction, resiliency, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and overall wellbeing. The results are crucial in addressing extant gaps in the intervention literature and addressing the rapidly declining mental health of undergraduate students due to the numerous implications for their overall wellbeing as well as academic success. If proven to be effective, the SWAG-R Program has the potential to positively impact student populations across the U.S. This session is intended to educate the audience on the availability of SWAG-R to NSU undergraduate students at no-cost and how it may help them improve mental health resiliency while better coping with anxiety, depression, and stress.
