Details

Category
Sub Category

Research: Assessing The Impact Of a University Mental Health Strategy

Despite growing investment in university mental health initiatives, evidence on their effectiveness remains limited. Researchers from Deakin University evaluated the impact of the university’s Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy by comparing student survey data collected before (2019) and after (2022) its implementation. While overall mental health outcomes showed little improvement, the researchers noted that COVID-19 pandemic likely influenced these results. Encouragingly, students reported greater willingness to seek help, and stronger feelings of inclusion and acceptance following the strategy’s introduction. The findings suggest that university mental health strategies can foster a more supportive campus environment but should be complemented by broader measures that address the underlying social and economic factors affecting student wellbeing.

Citation: Kavanagh, A.S., Owen, J.P., Lolicato, E., et. al. University student mental health before and after implementation of a mental health strategy: a repeated cross-sectional study from Australia, Health Promotion International, 2025, (link)

More Articles in Mental Health

UniSport Successfully Hosts Healthy Campus Community of Practice Session On Student Mental Health and Wellbeing 

Forty-seven university representatives from across Australia and New Zealand came together online on Tuesday 28 July for the latest UniSport Healthy Campus Community of Practice, which explored practical ways to advance mental health and wellbeing through the FISU Healthy Campus program.   Mental health and wellbeing continue to be a key focus for universities globally, with […]

Research: The Push-Up Challenge Delivers More Than Fitness

Physical activity initiatives offer universities an opportunity to improve student wellbeing while encouraging conversations about mental health. The University of Melbourne evaluated The Push-Up Challenge, a national program combining a month-long physical activity challenge with daily mental health education, self-care messages and help-seeking information. Tracking more than 29,000 participants, the study found improvements in wellbeing, […]

FISU Healthy Campus Program Signatories

Keep up to date

Interested in Healthy Campus Content? Sign up to our exclusive mailer.

Join the community

Stay up to date with Healthy Campus news from Australia and around the world.
UniSport acknowledges and pays respect to all traditional custodians of the lands of which we run, jump and throw throughout Australia. We pay respect to elders both past, present and emerging.
Copyright © 2026 UniSport. All Rights Reserved.