Stories & News

In this Q&A, Lindsey Mortenson, chief mental health officer, discusses mental health resources on campus, how expanded mental health services enhance communities, and ways to advocate for additional mental health support.

Students on the University of Michigan’s Ann Arbor campus now have access to up to six free counseling sessions per year, including same-day appointments, thanks to an expanded partnership with the student teletherapy provider Uwill. And in an effort to promote mental health and well-being for U-M faculty and staff, University Human Resources has recently created and filled a new position of chief behavioral health strategist.

In an effort to better support the mental well-being of University of Michigan students and faculty, university leaders have proposed extending the break between fall and winter terms for the 2023-24 academic year by an additional week.

The University of Michigan has created a holistic, strategic and comprehensive infrastructure to address the complex health and wellness needs of faculty, staff and students by launching a campus Well-being Collective.

Student Life has appointed Lindsey Mortenson, currently the acting executive director and medical director for University Health Service, as the campus’ inaugural chief mental health officer.

U-M is adopting new and innovative approaches to continue its focus on student mental health and well-being with resources targeting the holistic needs of students using a multi-dimensional approach and increased compassion.

Counseling and Psychological Services is piloting a new mental health and well-being resource that allows students to receive and provide support anonymously through an online peer-to-peer community

In an effort to become a “health promoting” university, the University of Michigan and seven other institutions have adopted the Okanagan Charter. The charter’s mission is to call on colleges and universities to “embed health into all aspects of campus culture and to lead health promotion action and collaboration locally and globally.

As part of a comprehensive plan to improve student well-being on campus, the University of Michigan has adopted the Okanagan Charter (PDF) and joined the United States Health Promoting Campuses Network, a cohort of seven U.S. universities committed to becoming health-promoting institutions.

U-M is launching comprehensive action to transform how the health and well-being needs of students can be holistically addressed. The approach is outlined in a new report.

A committee of deans, faculty, and staff across U-M Academic Affairs and Student Life areas released a new report that outlines a comprehensive approach for transforming how the health and well-being needs of students can be holistically addressed on the Ann Arbor campus. The recommendations, which span four broad themes of strategic and innovative change — each with its own series of supporting recommendations.

A 12-member committee examining how to improve student mental health and well-being is seeking feedback from the university community through a series of upcoming virtual town halls.

College students last fall reported their highest levels of depression and anxiety of any prior semester, according to U-M’s Healthy Minds Study, an annual web-based survey looking at mental health.