Population Interventions for Student Well-Being

February 2024 | Courtney Thornton

FY22-24 Implementation Plan Initiative: 4.1.3. Implement proactive population-level interventions to promote well-being and to complement existing individual-level crisis response efforts.

In support of the Wolfpack 2030:Powering the Extraordinary strategic plan, the Division of Academic and Student Affairs (DASA) has forged partnerships on and off campus to introduce new population-level interventions that promote student well-being. According to Dr. Lisa Zapata, Senior Associate Vice Chancellor in DASA, the university aims to offer a comprehensive suite of high quality services while also lowering common barriers that prevent students from accessing help: prohibitive cost, limited physical access, and loss of anonymity.

The list of services below begins with those offering direct access to clinical expertise and ends with those offering fully virtual and more anonymous accessibility to resources. All of these services are offered at no additional cost to NC State students.

NC State Counseling Center

With locations on Main and Centennial Campuses, the NC State Counseling Center uses a stepped-care approach to help individual students find the right support for them, starting with a virtual screening appointment. Center counselors also offer confidential informal consultations at various campus locations through the Let’s Talk drop-in counseling initiative.

Embedded Counselors

All NC State colleges and the Graduate School have embedded counselors who are available to students seeking drop-in support, individual counseling, group counseling and other services. Find embedded counselors here.

Mantra Telehealth

In partnership with the NC State Counseling Center, Mantra Telehealth provides NC State degree-seeking students access to free, unlimited teletherapy appointments. Learn how to create an account here.

Togetherall

Through NC State Prevention Services, Togetherall provides students with a safe, anonymous peer support community that is available online 24/7 and 365 days a year. Licensed mental health professionals monitor the community for safety and risk concerns. Learn more and register here.

Headspace

Headspace offers up to 4,000 NC State student subscribers the opportunity to access free science-backed meditation and mindfulness tools for improving sleep, managing stress, making healthy choices, and thinking more clearly. Sign up here.

Zapata noted that NC State counseling staff are already experiencing the benefits of this comprehensive approach, including quicker intake at the counseling center and lower hospitalizations. “Adding these additional resources has been a game changer,” said Monica Osburn, Executive Director of the Campus Health Center. “Students now have multiple options to access care through the environment that fits them best.”

In addition to the resources above, NC State provides students with opportunities to learn with and from one another. Free Counseling Center workshops, like Anxiety Toolbox, equip student participants with new coping skills and practices. Question, Persuade and Refer (QPR) workshops help students recognize the warning signs of suicide and guide a distressed student or friend to the support they need. Pack Recovery offers students weekly social support meetings and other substance-free events throughout the year.

Wellness Apps to Improve Your Well-Being shares free as well as low-cost platforms available to NC State students, faculty and staff.