2019 Summit Agenda

Inspiring Hope & Real Solutions to Address College Mental Health and Well-Being

October 23, 2019
8:30 am–4:30 pm 
College Park Marriott Hotel and Conference Center 
College Park, MD

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8:30 am

Registration Begins

9:45 am

Opening Remarks

Presenter: Katrin Wesner-Harts, ACHA President

10:00 am

Session 1

Part 1. The Intersection of Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Presenters: Admiral James A. Winnefeld, Jr., Former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Co-Founder of SAFE Project, and Mrs. Mary Winnefeld, Co-Founder and Co-Chair of SAFE Project

When you have both a substance abuse problem and a mental health issue such as depression, bipolar disorder, or anxiety, it is called a co-occurring disorder or dual diagnosis. Dealing with substance abuse, alcoholism, or drug addiction is never easy, and it’s even more difficult when you’re also struggling with mental health problems.  After losing his son to opioid addiction, Admiral Winnefeld and his family began dedicating themselves to this growing epidemic. Safeproject.us was founded in 2017 to contribute in tangible way to overcoming the addiction epidemic and to support action that will prevent fatal drug overdoses, and to otherwise mitigate substance use disorder’s impact on our society. 

Part 2. Innovations in Achieving Equity in College Mental Health
Presenter: Dr. Alfiee Breland-Noble, Project Director, Founder, The AAKOMA Project, Inc and CEO, The AAKOMA Center, PLLC

Dr. Alfiee M. Breland-Noble (Dr. Alfiee) is a gifted public speaker, researcher, media personality and consultant and fully licensed psychologist. She has realized her passion for helping racially diverse young people achieve optimal mental health via research and care for depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses. This discussion will offer knowledge and thought for leadership in the innovations of achieving equity in college mental health.

11:00 am

Networking Break

11:30 am

Session 2

Introduction: Kim Webb, MEd, LPC Director, Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention Center, Washington University in Saint Louis, and ACHA President-Elect

Part 1. After the Tragedy: Surviving a Mass Tragedy on College Campus 
Presenter: Dr. Robert Jones, Medical Director, Student Health Center, UNC Charlotte

In an age where active shooter scenarios on school campuses have seemingly become a common occurrence, dealing with the grief and trauma of these types of events is needed and necessary. This session will explore some steps to assist with surviving a mass tragedy.

Part 2. Understanding the Dimensions of Well-Being
Presenter: Sue Wasiolek, Associate Vice-President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students, Duke University 

Duke University has engaged in an extensive multi-year research effort to evaluate the critical components of well-being.  Duke University will present the four primary pillars of well-being and explore the implications for universities working to build research around what comprises cultures of campus well-being.

Part 3. Digital Mental Health Solutions to Our Burgeoning Campus’ Challenges with Mental Health
Presenter: Nicholas Allen, Director of Clinical Training, University of Oregon 

As student demand for mental health services grows, more colleges turn to platform addressing student “wellness. Some colleges and universities have begun to explore the idea of using technology to reach those students who might never speak out.  This session will explore the use digital technology to address campus mental health challenges. 

12:30 pm

Lunch

1:30 pm

Session 3

Part 1. Framing Well-Being in a College Campus Setting: Lessons, Emerging Trends, and Looking Toward the Future
Presenter: Dr. Wendy Shanahan-Richards, Chief Medical Officer, Aetna Student Health

The American College Health Foundation, with generous support from Aetna Student Health, completed a whitepaper on innovations in well-being in the college setting. This paper examines the state of the field of well-being at a diverse sample of institutions of higher education. Looking at well-being initiatives through the lens of serving both student and employee stakeholders, reveals new trends in creating cultures of care on campus. This session will present major themes, lessons learned, and questions for the future of well-being on campus.

Part 2. Cultivating Resilient Students
Presenter: Elana Bizer, LCSW, Integrated Health Team Leader & Technology Initiatives Coordinator, The University of Texas at Austin 

Universities often ask the question, “What can be done on campus to purposefully cultivate resiliency among our student body?” This session will discuss how mobile app Thrive at UT has been developed to foster the well-being of students throughout the University of Texas system.

Part 3. Leveraging Evidence-Based Programs to Improve Campus Well-Being and Mental Health  
Presenter: Bernadette Mauzurek-Melnyk, Vice President of Health Promotion, The Ohio State University

In recent years, there has been an increase in symptoms of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and other mental illnesses in college student populations. Simultaneously, there has been a steady rise in the demand for counseling services. These trends have been viewed by some as a mental health crisis requiring prompt investigation and the generation of potential solutions to serve the needs of students.  This session will highlight evidence-based programs that are assisting with the growing need on college campuses.

2:30 pm

Networking Break

3:00 pm

Session 4

Introduction: Linda Fleming McGhee, JD, PsyD, Clinical Psychologist and Founder, McGhee and Associates, LLC 

Part 1. Bending the Curve with Well-Being Coaching: Exploring an Alternative Model for Servicing Mental Health Demands on Campus
Presenter: Monica C. Webb, PhD, MPH, CHES, Associate Director, GatorWell Health Promotion Services, University of Florida

As the demand for counseling services on campus continues to grow, so too do new approaches to utilize other peer and faculty/staff interventions to help stem the tide.  Well-being coaching, otherwise known as wellness coaching, is being utilized on campuses as an emerging way to help identify and offer support to students that may not need counseling services on campus.  This session will explore approaches to wellness coaching from the University of Florida.

Part 2. Designing Friendships: Fostering Friendships and Social Connections on Campus
Presenter: Janice M. McCabe, Dartmouth College

We know that social isolation is correlated to depression, so how can universities build cultures that foster friendships and strong social ties? Dr. McCabe is author of the book, Connecting in College: How Friendship Networks Matter for Academic and Social Success. This session will explore how friendships facilitate academic and social success in college and will identify some key strategies that universities can utilize to help build strong friendship bonds between students.

Part 3. Ensuring Resilience of Campus Health and Well-Being Providers and Staff
Presenter: Sean Marz, Director of Training and Technical Assistance, Alive and Well Communities  

As campus-based providers and staff in health, counseling and health promotion offices work on the front-lines to build the well-being and mental health of our students, the issue of the resilience of these staff tend to get overlooked.  This session explores what leads to mental health provider and staff burnout and how can we build campus cultures that embrace and nurture the resilience and grit of these same staff that provide such critical care and outreach to our nation’s students.

4:00 pm

Closing Remarks 

4:30 pm–5:30 pm

Optional Bonus Session: Healthy Campus Town Hall

Facilitator: M. Scott Tims, PhD-Public Health, Tulane University, and ACHA Healthy Campus Coalition Chair