Wellness Advising With Motivational Interviewing (WA/MI)

We are collaborating with our Healthy Minds Network colleagues Daniel Eisenberg (University of Michigan) and Sarah Lipson (Boston University) to examine the effectiveness of an early identification and prevention program incorporated into routine student academic services (e.g., academic advising, success coaching, student accessibility services) in increasing student utilization of mental health services. Students complete a brief online wellness screening, and those who are randomized to Wellness Advising and screen positively for elevated mental health concerns meet with academic support staff for wellness advising, linking mental health to their goals and values, and exploring relevant mental health resources.
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Current publications (in preparation) seek to (a) evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention design and provide information for other faculty and staff within Student Services offices to implement similar interventions at their own  institutions, (b) to evaluate patterns of service utilization among college students with different mental health symptom profiles, and (c) to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention in increasing service utilization. Future analyses will examine the effects of the program on various outcomes, as well as moderation and mediation relations among them:

• Mental health: depression, anxiety 

• Health behaviors: sleep, substance use, eating behaviors 

• Values and goals in domain of relationships, academics / career, and personal wellness

• Motivation, stigma, perceived competence, perception and knowledge of mental health services, service utilization